
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

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SHORE LIFE 



IN SONG 



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Vv^ILLIAM HALE. 



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" APa 23 1886, 



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BIDDEFORD, ME. 

PRINTED AT THE BIDDEFORD JOURNAL OFFICE, 
1886. 

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"PS »7 74- 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1886, by 

WILLIAM HALE, 
In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 



TO MY 

HANDFUL AND HEARTFUL 

OF 

DEAR SHORE FRIENDS, 

WHOSE LIVES ARE AS HEALTHFUL, 

AND HEARTY, AND OPEN, AND GENEROUS, 

AND AS PURE AND SWEET AS THE SEA, 

BESIDE WHICH, AND ON WHICH, 

AND BY WHICH, THEY LIVE, 

THIS LITTLE BOOK 

IS LOVINGLY INSCRIBED. 



WILLIAM HALE. 



Ogunquit-on-the-Sea. 
1886. 



CONTENTS. 

Ogunquit Fishing Fleet 1 

Upon the Sands 5 

"Where the Ocean Singeth Free" 7 

The Empty Boat 8 

Sea Influence 11 

A. Sea-turn 1 2 

My Wee Sea-Garden 13 

The Fisherman's Wife 15 

Day-break on the Marshes 18 

Boon Island 20 

"I Dwell Beside the Sea" 21 

Moonrise at Sea 22 

Sunrise at Sea 23 

The Little Grave Beside the Sea 24 

Days of Growth 27 

My Sea-Dove 30 

Night-Fall 32 

To Mother on the Shore 34 

A Walk Upon the Shore 36 

"I Lie Upon the Great Sand-Dunes" 39 

God's Mariner . 40 

The Arctic Owl 43 

A Song 45 

Little Things 46 

New Year's Eve 47 

Heart-Calm 50 

Nature's Song 51 

On Sea-Cliffs High and Lone 53 

Skipper Charlie 56 

The Home-Coming 63 



CONTENTS. V 

Waiting lor the Ship 60 

My Boat 69 

AChild of the Sea 72 

A Happ}- Home 76 

O Gray Sea 78 

Farewell Thou Sea ! . 79 

A Song of the Heart 83 

Passing On 85 

"0 Tender, Infinite, Gray Sea" 87 

Then and Now 89 

A Little Brown Nest by the Sea 90 

The Sea's Lesson 92 

A Parting Hail 94 

The '^Poor Jim" 96 

The Sailing of the "Lily" 100 

My Prayer , 104 

To an Out-Bound Ship 107 

Ogunquit Church Ill 

The Hidden Sea 115 

Lines to a Human Bone 120 

The Gull Rock 123 

My Friends the Ships 126 

Aaron and Leander 129 

Lines Written on the Fly-Leaf of "Tmitatio 

De Christi" 133 

God's Love and Mine ] 35 

Uncle Hiram's Story 137 

Eight Bells !— All's Well ! 142 

The Plover'sNest 145 



VI CONTENTS. 

On the River 148 

Sea-Scents and Sounds 150 

Ogunquit River 152 

The Fishing Boat 158 

My Inheritance 162 

"6 Sea, O Sliore, O Wan-Cheeked Moon". .164 

Retrospection ,.165 

Cape Neddick Harbor 169 

Sea Blown 172 

An Order for a Song 175 

In From Sea 177 

The Price o' Fish 179 

Suspense 181 

Sailing Orders 184 

My Argosy 185 

An Ocean Eden 188 

Home's Anchorage 195 

Drowned on the Bar 201 

Dawn 205 

Mary 206 

The Loss of ''The Belle of the Bay" 209 

Step by Step ' 214 

Little Sailor Dick 216 

Bald Head Cliff 220 

A Daughter of the Brine 224 

Daisy and Danie 226 

Jerome's First Voyage 228 

A Tent Upon the Shore 233 

Cynthy 236 



PROEM. 

Go, little book ! Go forth ! 

Fearless 

Go out into the world upon 
Thy mission sweet of sympathy, 
And love, and cheer. 

Seek every place. 
Shun no heart calling in the night 
For brother's thought, and deed, and voice; 
But seek thou most earth's quiet spots— 
The wind-blown spaces of the shore ; 
The dwellings clustered close of them 
That love, and live, and die, upon 
The sea. 

There fetch thy sunniest cheer. 
Enter those homes where great hearts be. 
That bravely breast the baffling waves 
Of care and trial that each day 
Beat ceaseless on the shores of time. 
Such homes for thine abiding choose— 
Those sea-side homes fixed firm upon 
Gray ledges, a-top brown-red clifis 
That call and answer to the sea. 

Go, little book ! Go forth unto 

All lowly places ; unto homes 

Low, brown, where a few roses cling, 

And holly-hocks stand guard beside 

The porch, and sun-flowers wreathed in smiles 

Follow the day : 



Vlll PROEM. 

Where, close below, 
The great sea chants its song for aye. 
Bestowing its immensity 
Upon a little town — thus doth 
Companionship with greatness, make 
The small seem great, by greatness shared. 

When day is done, and toil forgot 

Before the brightly glowing hearth, 

Then speak thy little word of cheer, 

And sing thy little gift of song, 

And breathe thy little thought to bless. 

Whisper sweet comfort unto all 

Brave brother hearts that share with thee 

The gift of life, one in its hope. 

One in its love, and scope, and goal. 

One in its common lot, and fate — 

And, finally, one common home. 

Unto all hearts, little book. 
That look up to the light and trust. 
And daily strive with faith renewed, 
Be brother thou ! be steadfast friend ! 
Be thou the sun, to light their days; 
The moon, to cheer their niirhts. 




OGUNQUIT FISHING FLEET. 

l see the fishing boats put out 

Each morn upon the sea, 
And from my earl}' window watch 

Them floating far and free. 

Ere the first flush of day appears, 

While stars are in the sky, 
Out steal the boats all silently, 

And to their moorings hie. 

While rest their wives and little ones, 
And all the world 's asleep. 

These hardy fishers launch their boats 
And sail forth on the deep. 

To feed the little hungry mouths, 

To cover little feet. 
Each day, when wind and wave allow, 

Toils hard the fishing fleet. 

1 



OGUNQUIT FISHING FLEET. 

To keep their wives and little ones, 
And their snug homes maintain, 

They draw a well-earned livelihood 
From the begrudging main. 

A league or more out from the shore, 
They fish with trawl and line ; 

With cunning hand draw deftly in 
The trophies of the brine. 

I see them stealing here and there 
In distance small and slow, 

And with my glass I find each one 
As in and out they go. 

I know each boat, I find them all, 
And count them one b}' one. 

Dark spots upon the waters bright 
Like motes upon the sun. 

B}^ heart and rote I know each boat. 
Name each familiar friend, 

And out to each in earnest speech 
A hearty God- speed send. 



OGUNQUrr FISHING FLEET. 

To each familiar form I turn 

A-bending o'er the bay, 
And ask of Him who made the sea 

To guide them in His way. 

O friends of mine ! O fishers free ! 

Sail on, and nobly on ! 
Until the voyage of life be o'er. 

And the safe harbor won ! 

Sail on ! and learn to prize full well 

The joys of simple life ; 
Let not the great world beat for you 

Her noisy wings of strife. 

Sail on, and ever fearless on ! 

The billows bravely breast ; 
Nor let the hollow world entice 

You from your port of rest. 

Sail on, and lean your trusting hearts 

Upon God's ocean wide ; 
And learn to prize His love more than 

The great round world beside. 



OGUNQUIT FISHING FLEET. 

O friends of mine ! O sailors strong ! 

O hearts that beat so true ! 
Ye cannot know these earnest thoughts 

That go out after you. 

Good friends, ye cannot hear this song, 

Nor feel this heart of mine, 
That warm and loving beats for 3'ou 

Far out upon the brine. 

But heart shall read each heart one day 
And friend with friend shall meet, 
Peace be with ye, O sailors of 
Ogunquit fishing fleet ! 




UPON THE SANDS. 

I walked the shining sands one daj- 
To watch the little waves at pla}-. 

I followed down the ebbing tide. 
Free as the beach birds at my side ; 

M3' life, bird-like, knew no alloy, 
I sang aloud for very joy. 

To Him who loves the birds and me 
Alike, I cried : "Thus let it be : 

Thus, gracious Father, lead along 
Life's shore, hearing alway Thy song ; 

Thy child, ever to hear and see. 
The sound and shimmer of life's sea ; 

Ever, although the storm be high, 
To hear the low sweet voices nigh ; 

Prepared to rise and fly to thee, 
As these dear birds wing o'er the sea ; 

5 



UPON THE SANDS. 

Content — Thou holding fast my hand- 
To walk along life's golden sand ; 

Content to work and sing for thee 
Hearing the murmur of th}' sea ; 

Ready to go, content to wait 
Upon the strand, till, soon or late. 

The holy, happj' summons heard, 
I joyful rise, like a wee bird, 

Above the sad waves' restless beat, 
Above the rush of hurrying feet. 

Beyond the striving of the shore, 
Unto my home forevermore. 




WHERE THE OCEAN SINGETH FREE.' 

Upon the gray and solemn sand 

Alone at eve I cried ; 
*'Here, Father, in thy hollowed hand 

Ever let me abide. 

Here, where the ocean singeth free 

Its glad, eternal song, 
Grant me in peace and use to be 

Living, cheery and strong ; 

Grant me, upon thy lowly shore, 
More true and brave to grow. 

My song of faith a-singing o'er 
As I pass to and fro. 

Until, at last, or soon or late, 

I hear the summons mild, 
*Come to thy spirit's high estate, 

Come unto me, O child.' " 



THE EMPTY BOAT. 

If I should go out in my little boat, 

Out on the deep, deep sea, 
If I should go out one day, my love, 

And never return to thee ; 

If I should sail forth, O love of mine, 

Never to be brought back, 
If the deep, deep sea closed over me, 

And the little boat a wrack ; 

What would 3'ou do, O precious one ? 

What would you do, sweet soul. 
With me at anchor in Heaven's safe port, 

And you far, far from your goal ? 

Would you not think of the well-loved one 
Who gazed with yearning eyes. 

Back, back to the distant shore for you 
When came the wild surprise ? 
8 



THE EMTTY BOAT. 51 

Would 3'ou not think of the true, tried one, 

Who feared no earthly thing, 
Who met his fate with a faith so firm 

That took from death its sting ? 

Would you not feel that the little boat 

That he shall guide no more, — 
Found a-floating, a sad wrecked thing — 

Left him on a fairer shore ? 

Would you not feel and know, love. 

That the angr}- waves that day 
Did drown the body, but not the soul 

From that little boat in the bay? 

Would you not see that those brave, bright eyes 

That looked and yearned for 3-00, 
Out of the beyond, are shining yet 

With light, tender and true? 

Would you not live in this sweet trust, 

That you shall one day float 
Safe out of the open sea of life, 

Into some port remote? 

2 



10 THE EMPTY BOAT. 

Where you shall find, O happy shore I 

Amid a radiant band, 
Your beloved one, waiting eagerly. 

With joyous, out-stretched hand? 



So let the little empty boat 

Ride out the noisy swell 
Of ebb and flood, moored off the shore 

That he has loved so well. 

So let the frail, dismantled craft 
Mark off life's ebb and flow. 

Through all the dreary restless hours, 
Through tides that come and go. 

So let the tiny, crippled bark. 
Breasting the ocean's strife, 

Speak to you of a peaceful port, 
The port of rest and life. 



SEA INFLUENCE. 

The sweet sea-scents float in 

My window as I read, 
All rich and sweet and pure 

With the golden-brown sea- weed. 

And the sweet, familiar rote, 

Singing the olden song. 
Chants deep and free, so dear to me, 

The eternal music strong. 

O sea, O shore, ye are so near 
To this glad soul of mine ; 

And thankfully my life away 
I live beside the brine. 




11 



A SEA-TURN. 

Up through the salt and sea-blown spaces 

Floweth the evening wind ; 
Over the long, low, marshy places, 

Far, faint and soft ontlined. 

The gray fog floweth over all. 

And wrapped in silver mist, 
All human cares ebb with the tide, 

And all the world sa3^s "Hist !" 

The ocean in its peace-robes folds 

My heart, its trusting child ; 
And bids me steadfast onward press. 

And breast life's billows wild. 




12 



MY WEE SEA-GARDEN. 

At my sea-window long I sit. 
When evening shadows fall, 

And watch the darkness o'er the land 
And o'er the ocean fall. 

I close upon the casement lean 

To catch before I go, 
The dainty scents that float up from 

My wee garden below. 

I smell the garden heliotrope, 

The tender mignonette 
And little winsome violets 

All sweet, and rich, and wet. 

I bend low o'er th* ambrosia bed, 

The lavender and balm, 
And kiss the thoughtful pansiea that 

Look up to smile and charm. 



13 



14 MY WEE SEA-GARDEN. 

The dainty, dewy, lih'-bells 

Lean on the air a-faint. 
The sweet-brier nestles low upon 

The rock-heap, gray and quaint. 

O tiny sea garden of mine, 

Hard by the yellow sands. 
Where white gulls wheel and strong tides rush 

Far up and down the lands ; 

Kissed by the sea-blown, sweet salt scents, 

Enfringed b}' pinks and shells. 
And cradled in the ocean's peace 

That o'er me sinks and swells ; 

wee sea garden sweet of mine. 
Begirt with hawthorn flowers, 

1 thank thee from my heart to-night 
For many restful hours ! 



THE FISHERMAN'S WIFE. 

At day-break Donald rose, and said 

"Good by, O Annie dear ! 
My little boat will bring me back 

And 3'ou must never fear." 

He pressed me closeh' to his breast, 

He kissed our little boy, 
And passed out to the chilly morn, 

His good face full of joy. 

I saw him leave the road and take 

The path below the hill, 
That runs across the valley, to 

The wharves and old black mill. 

He looked across the broad gray sands 
And scanned with knowing eyes. 

The clouds that from the skyline, seemed 
Like hungry gulls to rise ; 

15 



16 THE fisherman's WIFE. 

He looked off to the harbor-bar 
Where white caps rose and fell, 

And great waves dashed upon the rocks 
He knew and feared so well. 

I watched him with his strong brown hands. 

From out the narrow slip 
Shove down his dory, till she felt 

The waters rise and dip. 

I saw him store his trawls aboard, 

Then pull with stead}' oar, 
Down past the rocks, the beach, the bar. 

And head straight off* the shore. 

My frightened heart stood still, as twice 

Upon the foaming bar 
The little boat was lost to sight. 

And twice rose like a star. 

And thus the boat pushed bravely out 

Grew smaller, and so small, 
A wee black speck, a floating fleck, 

I could not see at all. 



THE fisherman's WIFE. 17 

And then I left my window- watch 
And bowed me down, and cried :— 

*^Teach us to trust thy love, O God, 
Whatever may betide ! 

Bless all who live upon the deep ! 

Was't not for such as we 
Thou calmedst the angry rolling wave 

On stormy Galilee? 

Then all who dwell beside the sea 

And earn bread from the wave 
O cover with Thy watchful e3*e, 

And with Thy mercy save. 

Help us, O Father, so to live, 

On ocean or on shore. 
That we Thy love may always feel, 

And trust Thee more and more. 

Help us to trust our days to Thee, 

Our lives, and all we be. 
And feel— safe in Thy wondrous love— 

At home on land or sea." 



DAY-BREAK ON THE MARSHES. 

The dawn is pierced with curlew cries- 
Swift whistling through the air, 

Lo, countless gleaming wings arise 
Above, around me, here and there. 

I tread light o'er the oozy turf, 

I pause to listen oft 
The plover calling to his mate 

In signals low and soft. 

And in the hush of dawning day, 

Upon the sweet, salt grass, 
I watch the birth of a new da}' 

In glory come to pass. 

I mark the crimson lights that flash 

Across the glowing sea, 
And bathe the marshes, broad and fair. 

In hues of rare beauty. 
18 



DAY-BREAK ON THE MARSHES. 19 

I bow in reverence before 

The flush of a new day, 
A tender hush steals o'er my heart 

That shall not pass away. 

I catch the glow, I feel the spell ; 

Caught from the brightening skies 
Thoughts fairer than earth tintings rare 

Within my spirit rise. 

I grasp the holy mysteries ; 

Firm fixed my faith is set : — 
What wonder that in scenes like these 

Mine eyes with tears be wet ! 




BOON ISLAND. 

lonely Island of the lonely deep, 

Whose tower tall with steadfast eye doth keep 

Lone vigil over wind and wave and land, 
A guiding star of hope on every hand, 

1 breathe upon thee words thou canst not hear, 
I give the greetings warm and full of cheer ; 

And over wear}' miles of wailing sea 
My heartfelt benedicte send to thee. 

Fondly each morn I turn my wistful eye 
To see thee looming tall against the sky ; 

And fonder yet, I gaze night after night, 
Watch for, and welcome, thy glad, cheery light. 

O cherished neighbor, island of the sea 
Out of my heart I claim kinship with thee ! 

Steadfast companion of my nights and da3^s, 
And radiant friend in all my busy ways, 
20 



*'I DWELL BESIDE THE SEA." 21 

Let my full tide of friendship toward thee set, 
Help thee to da3-s of dreariness forget ; 

Let ray warm heart lean o'er the sea and meet 
Thy loneliness with loneliness as sweet ; 

And let our close companionship reveal 

What words can ill express, but friendship feel. 

"I DWELL BESIDE THE SEA." 

I dwell beside the sea, fed by its lips, 
Thankful for the society of ships. 

Hard bj' the calling, crjing kelpy caves. 

In sight and sound of restless, rushing waves ; 

Cheered b}' the wild, wierd music of the beach, 
As sweet and clear and deep as human speech. 

And often at the silent close of day 
I hie me to the shore and softly say — 

Thankful that thus my restless life should be 
Led on and on beside the singing sea — 

*'0 peaceful, thoughtful and eternal sea. 

Give me thy peace ! make me more like thee ! 



MOON RISE AT SEA, 

The moon appears in queenly state 
And smiles upon the sea ; 

Night opens wide her pearly gate 
With white stars gleaming free. 

The silver waters kiss the sky ; 

The soft waves lap to rest 
The brooding hours, that listless lie 

Upon the ocean's breast. 

Lo ! In the holy hush of night 
Life's cares do seeming cease ; 

The spirit takes its loftiest flight, 
And drinks its deepest peace. 




22 



SUNRISE AT SEA. 

Out in my boat away I float 

A-down the dappled dawn, 
And, from the mouthy shore remote. 

Watch close the birth of morn. 

The twilight gray steals on apace. 
The pale stars glimmer j'et, 

Night hastes to hide her sad, dark face. 
The wan-cheeked moon is set. 

The angel of the dawn appears 
And shakes his wings of gold, 

His rosy face triumphant cheers 
The waters still and cold. 

Then angels seize the shafts of light, 
And hurl them here and there ; 

O'er waves that ripple with delight 
Comes young day blithe and fair. 

The sun uprises graciously, — 
And from his throne is rolled. 

Dancing upon the waters free, 
A lane of molten gold. 

23 



THE LITTLE GRAVE BESIDE THE SEA. 

Unmindful of the sunshine warm, 

Unmindful of the sea, 
A little weary child doth sleep 

Upon the hill-side lea. 

He heareth not the birds that sing, 

Nor heeds the ocean wild, 
He marketh not the wheeling gulls. 

This little tired child. 

The winsome mouth is hushed and calm. 

The little eyes asleep, ~ 
The grave is silent ! And the dead 

Their still, lone vigils keep. 

The wearied pilgrim seeth not 

How the fond father still 
Puts off to sea each morn from out 

Trie port below the hill. 

24 



THE LITTLE GRAVE BESIDE THE SEA. 25 

Nor heeds the little boat that fares 

At evening to the ba}^ 
Nor how the father's loving heart 

To him doth call and pray. 

The sweet sea-air doth softl}^ sweep 

Above him calm and still, 
The father's brimming eyes watch oft 

The grave upon the hill. 

And so, O little, lonely mound, 

O grave beside the sea ! 
Thou art the very sweetest spot 

In all the world to me ! 

For thou art the abiding place — 

Tho' to the world unknown — 
Of many hallowed, holy thoughts, 

O grave unsought and lone. 

Only a few devoted feet 

Find their soft way to thee 
And pray, and mourn, and praise, above 

The grave beside the sea. 



26 THE LITTLE GRAVE BESIDE THE SEA. 

Sweet are the thoughts that friendship sows, 
And sweet thoughts rise in me, 

When oft I visit all alone 
The grave beside the sea. 

How soundly must he sleep, I saj-, 

How sweet and trustful rest. 
Lulled to soft slumber by the sea, 

And pillowed on its breast. 

And so, O little, lonely boy. 

Fair child upon the lea. 
At morn, at night, in shade or shine, 

Watched by the faithful sea. 

Fair shall the promised dawn awake. 
When thy sweet sleep shall cease, 

And softly unto thee and me. 
May angels whisper "Peace." 



DAYS OF GROWTH. 

Methinks these daj^s of waiting come, 
These days when waters moan, 

And earth, and sea, and sounding shore 
With whistling winds are blown ; 

Methinks they come direct from Him 

Who ruleth sea and land, 
And holds the ocean's tides within 

The hollow of His hand. 

Methinks they come aright from Him 
Who guides these lives of ours. 

And keeps us when we know it not. 
Through the unconscious hours. 

Methinks they come, these days of peace, 

From One who knoweth best 
When His weak children bravely strive, 

And when they need His rest. 

27 



28 DAYS OF GROWTH. 

I feel He loves His children so 

His care can never fail, 
And so I welcome thankfuUj- 

These days of storm and gale. 

I know these dreary, cloudy days, 

Are just the days I need. 
And thus I rest upon God's breast. 

And on His merc}^ feed. 

These days of storm are days of growth 

They lift us from our ease ; 
The}' bid us launch our boats away 

And sail with God the seas. 

These tempest-days are growing daj's 

On which we rise in song ; 
They bid us bravely breast life's waves, 

And teach us to be strong. 

However dark and drear the day. 

Or wild the tempest's din, 
Naught can disturb my soul's deep calm 

For all is peace within. 



DAYS OF GROWTH. 29 

These daj^s of storm and striving are 

To me but days of rest, 
With light and peace, and faith and love, 

Deep locked within my breast. 

And so the stormy, darksome days 

Bring only peace to me : 
Thankful I wait, and rest, and grow 

Strong by the mighty sea. 



Mil 



MY SEA-DOVE. 

Be m\' fair sea-dove, in 3-on window sit 
And brood upon the sea with tender eye. 
While in my little boat the waves I skim, 
And watch thy signal in the tower high. 

While like a swallow o'er the sea I wing 
Happy and blithe beneath my gleaming sail, 
Watching the token of that love, dear heart. 
That for me shineth ever without fail. 

Watching to catch the glint of snowy scarf 
From out the little window on the height. 
To catch the gleaming of a white arm there. 
Or find the fairness of thy robe's pure white. 

I look thro' eyes a-brimming with love's flood 
To the familiar watch-tower on the hill, 
So happy in the thought that my fair dove 
Waits true and patient, calm and steadfast still. 
30 



MY SEA-DOVE. 31 

So glide I eager to the shining shore, 
And lift my voice unto the sea's sweet speech. 
And feel that life is such a joyous thing, 
That hath the sea and love its way to teach. 

And so I sing : "O tender sea-dove mine. 
Make we beside the sea our wee snug nest, 
Where as sea-children we can safe abide. 
And in each other's arms find peace and rest." 

I see the soft white flutter and go down. 
And, as I make the bay, is seen no more ; 
I know my love in youthful radiance fair 
Will wait to bid me welcome on the shore. 




NIGHT-FALL. 

The wearied da}^ sank slow to rest 
Upon the ocean's billowy breast ; 

Black bars of cloud in grim arra}^ 
In sombre fetters bore awa}^ 

The beauteous one whose presence fair 
Still lingered down the glowing air. 

O'er tne gra}- sea there stole a sense 
Of meek, devoutest penitence ; 

Like some adoring sweet-faced nun 
Lost in her prayers at set of sun. 

The darkness came on more and more 
And brooded closer than before. 

I could not see the purple wave 
But heard it lap the shore and lave ; 

I only heard the slumbering deep 
Where lonely birds their watchings keep. 
32 



NIGHT-FALL. 33 

I only touched the cool, wet sand, 
And in the hollow of my hand 

Held a few drops from ocean's cup, 
And felt my spirit lifted up. 

I felt that wondrous spirit-peace 
That comes as the pure soul's increase, 

When faith and love their pinions shake, 
And into hallowed song awake. 




TO MOTHER ON THE SHORE. 

Sweet mother, sitting on the shore, 
Beneath the bold cliff's frown 

Where mighty waves like war-steeds foam, 
And trample up and down ; 

Sweet mother, on the golden sands 

Resting by ocean's side. 
Come, let me hold thee in these hands. 

Come, with thy child abide. 

Sweet mother, let the ocean's peace 

Enfold thee close to-day, 
And all of sorrow, all of pain 

Drive from thy heart awa3\ 

Dwell, glad and free, hard by the sea. 

Its healthy influence feel. 
Let thro' the sea my love for thee 

It's brimming cup reveal. 

34 



TO MOTHER ON THE SHORE. 35 

Sweet mother, trust tli}' heart with mine, 

Make my fond heart thy home, 
And let it be a rest so sweet 

Thou canst not from it roam. 

Sweet mother, trust th3'self to me, 

Make my fond heart thine own ; 
And feel, far mightier than the sea, 

My love around thee thrown. 

In storm or calm, in shade or shine. 

Find shelter on my breast. 
Let this unfathomed love of mine. 

Afford thee peace and rest. 

Let this unfathomed love of mine. 

Far vaster than the sea, 
Chant its eternal rhyme to all 

The world, — but most to thee. 



A WALK UPON THE SHORE. 

I walked upon the shore one dreary da}-, 
The solemn sands were cold and gray and wet ; 
And wailed the sea in mournful discontent, 
Like some low, tender, and sad-voiced, regret. 

Afar, from o'er the steel blue waters came 

The uncertain glinting of a filmy sail. 

And, chafed there yonder by the low, black 

rocks, 
The sullen sea gave back its hollow wail. 

Near me, the little beach-birds, fearless, brave. 
Ran, piping softly, up and down the sand. 
Seeming with me to feel the love of God, 
And dwell, like me, within his hollowed hand. 

I wandered on, by rocks and kelpy cairns, 
Nigh to the sea's great heart — the dear sweet 

rote 
Making familiar music — till I came 
At last unto my little bight remote. 
36 



A WALK UPON THE SHORE. 37 

Unto, be3-ond the bar, the little cove 
Sheltered and sandy, close begirt with ledge 
That guards and keeps and holds it sweet for me, 
And runs into the ocean life a wedge. 

I softly said : *'Here let us stay, dear heart. 
Within this sheltered, sunny, sea-kept spot, 
Where God's deep peace flows in full on the tide. 
And the great, weary world distracteth not. 

Here let us staj^ dear heart, yes, thou and I, 
Here in this quiet cranny let us dwell 
Hard by the sea, and fed by its deep peace, 
And watch the wondrous waters flow and swell. 

In such companionship let us remain. 
Such sweetness for our habitation choose. 
Nor wander far and vainly forth to gain 
Ill-satisfying wealth, we find to lose. 

This is the favored spot, our chosen home : 
At anchor in this port we'll snugly ride 
Upon the singing tide, that like God's love, 
Rushes and swells and floweth free and wide. 



38 A WALK UPON THE SHORE. 

Here is our home ! — I love the sweet, sweet 

name ! — 
Our simple little home beside the sea ; 
The rocks, the birds, the waves our nearest 

friends, 
The sea and God both here so close and free." 




I LIE UPON THE GREAT SAND-DUNES.' 

I lie upon the great sand-dunes 

To see the stars arise, 
And listen to the far off songs 

O'er sea and land that rise. 

The weary day is dead and gone, 
And night is on the deep ; 

Angels of thought in tenderness 
Their pinions o'er me sweep. 

And in the silence and the hush 
I catch faint songs divine ; 

Out on the trembling stilly night 
Beats loud this heart of mine. 

And mid the ecstacy of song, 

The anthems of the stars. 
Nebulous gates are folded back 

Held fast by gleaming bars. 

What wonder, lost in infinite. 
This finite life doth cease ; 

And that, fed by eternal love. 
Doth human love increase ! 

89 



GOD'S MARINER. 

AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED TO S. H. 

One of God's mariners am I 

Upon His ocean vast, 
And tho' I see not now my port 

I know 'tis sure at last. 

One of God's mariners am I 

Breasting the sea of life, 
Only a weary seaman I, 

Swept by the billows strife. 

Onl}' a trembling mariner 

Afloat upon God's sea, 
Yet knowing only what is good 

His love can bring to me. 

Only an humble sea-farer, 

A singing sailor I ; 
Tho* swift the storm sweep o'er my course 

I know that by and by 

40 



god's mariner. 41 

Awaits me sure the harbor safe 

Where storms can enter not, 
Where, anchored in the ba}^ of peace. 

Past dangers are forgot. 

Riding at anchor in the port 

I'll laugh at ocean's strife. 
At all those wear}^ anxious days 

I, struggling, pra3'ed for life ; 

When, spent from battling with the storms, 
And from the course blown wide, 

I called on him who rules the sea 
His ship- wrecked child to guide. 

Following thus the pilot true, 

And trusting Him alway, 
Patient I slowly fare, and gain 

A little day by day. 

One of God's earnest mariners 

I sail on through the night, 
Trusting his love to keep my way 

Until the course grows light. 



42 god's mariner. 

Trusting his beacon lights to guide, 

The safe way to reveal, 
I steer with closely tended sail, 

And bend firm at the wheel. 

Bright o'er the troubled sea of night 

Shines on me from afar 
God's glorious orb of love, His own 

Refulgent guiding star. 

And so I press on through the night, 
Knowing he holds my way 

To guide, and lead me up at last. 
Unto His perfect day. 

Only God's mariner am I, 

His child forevermore, 
Or out upon His open sea. 

Or on His sheltered shore. 

Surely God's mariner am I, 
Wher-e'er my bark may float ! 

Tho' swift or slow the voyage may be. 
Sure is the port remote. 



THE ARCTIC OWL. 

Perched out there yonder on the bleak, bare 

head, 
The great, white owl his lonel}^ vigil keeps ; 
Erect and stately on the rocks and snow 
He clasps the icy crags with firm-set feet. 
And blinks serenely at the pelting storm, 
And mid the fury of the elements 
Unmoved contemplates with his purblind eyes 
The mournful waste of waters neath him spread. 

The sad relentless wailing of the sea 
Touches with kindred thrill his lone brave heart, 
And speaks to him of frosty Labrador, 
His far off home of ice and snow and cold, 
The splendid paradise of fearless birds. 

Fiercely the salt sea-spray sweeps o'er the head, 
Blown from the wild north-easter's savage 

throat : 
Majestic rouses the brave bird, and shakes 
His ample plumage ruffled by the blast, 

43 



44 THE ARCTIC OWL. 

And with consummate haughtiness and state 
Within his ermine robes himself close folds, 
Withdraws unto himself, and learns to lean 
Upon his own unaided powers. 

And thus 
Teaching the lesson all brave hearts must learn, 
To look, not outward, but first, most, within ; 
To hold the great world off; not to permit 
Its entrance to those holy peaceful crypts 
Sacred to self, where deep browed thought en- 
throned. 
Sits to bestow her rapt companionship. 




A SONG. 

I take a warm heart for my queen, 

A sweet face for m}' song, 
A loving heart to beat so true, 

Full lips that part in song. 

A generous form, a shapely head, 

A bosom full and wide. 
And rich brown hair that bursts its bonds 

And ripples like the tide. 

Eyes that know only how to look 

All kind, all sweet, all true, 
Dear, steadfast, shinmg pilot-lights. 

My love's deep eyes of blue. 

A sweeter life than hers I weiss 

Was never, never known, 
A life unselfish pure and sweet. 

And great through sorrow grown. 

A nobler truer heart than hers 

Was never, never seen, 
Beating forever true and warm. 

The great heart of my queen. 

45 



LITTLE THINGS. 

What gifts, O God, are ours from thee — 
These friends, this shore, this sea ! 

Where e'er we turn thy comforts cling, 
The days all sing of thee. 

The very air, the night, the day, 

The senses, sound and sight, 
These precious rills of comfort thrill 

Our being with delight. 

These little things, so near and dear 

They almost common seem ; 
God's little unregarded gifts, 

That with sweet comfort teem ; 

These little things so oft o'er looked. 

Too often thrown away, 
Are richest blessings that are given 

To make sweet life's steep wa3\ 

Only by trusting all to Him 

Our feet with light are shod : 
Sweetest thro' sorrow's tear- dimmed night 
Shine the fair stars of God. 
46 



NEW YEAR'S EVE. 

With brimming heart I lay to-night 

The lost dead year awa}- ; 
The onward path I can not see, 

The time with mist is gray. 

Tis step by step, and day by day, 

Our little lives we lead ; 
The past is gone, the future God's, 

The present is our heed. 

What lot is mine I can not tell ; 

What draught my cup shall fill — 
Bitter or sweet ; my life I know 

Is ordered by God's will. 

Whatever in its time befalls. 

This thing I surely know ; 
It must be right and good, because 

My Father willed it so. 

47 



48 SEW TEARi ETE- 

I win oot ton mil vcak to Hn 



Bat atn^gjging vpfvaid, peak on peak, 
Skyv fioB tke Tallef- me. 



I vill BoC fiear die firtme ffiii, 

Nor brood oTcr daja kng^ 
K aoaiug tkat firmg; trmt each daj 

I 



I lold the veaiy &mj9 avaj, 
Aad kias tke djiag jcar, 

kappx eider oa Ike Bear 
la 



Upon tke Lord I tiwtfkl 
Tkaiddk: for wkat He 

And give aB&o ffiskywefo 
M jadf; aad an rrr fr?T^4* 

(Tcr Tale and km. 
Uptotkeffirttt 



KEW tear's eve. 49 

I know He'll not despise His own, 

His children weak forget, 
But help them when the flint is hard, 

And tears the sandals wet. 

I know that all I am and have 

Are His, and His alone ; 
And what He kindly loans me here 

Is His and not my own. 

I give my life with its results, 

I give Him all my friends, 
I trust His strength to lift me up 

When my poor weakness ends. 

I trust His love for everything, 
Through all my nights and days, 

Trust it to guide and give me grace 
In all my human ways. 

I trust it in the shadowy night, 
I trust it in the dawn, 

I trust it when the dead shall wake 
Unto the perfect morn. 

7 



HEART-CALM. 

The low white sail in the far offing faint 
Gleams like a pearl dropped in the sapphire sea ; 
All here and there the joyous Kittiwakes 
In merr}' revel skim the slumbering sea. 

Deep is the soft blue air ; deep is the sea ; 
Sweet are the songs blown from yon boisterous 

caves ; 
Rich is the air with ocean's peaceful kiss ; 
Sweet are mj^ thoughts that rise from life's deep 

caves ; 
Rich is my heart, made glad by scenes like this. 

The white sail melts within the sea's deep cup ; 
The happy birds utter their brave wild cries ; 
My heart, too, melting on a sea of love, 

With joy doth fill the over-brooding skies. 



50 



NATURE'S SONG. 

I go down to the lonely beach 
And hold out both my hands, 

Listening for nature's kindly speech 
With ear close on the sands. 

Full on her all-sufficing breast 

My trusting self I throw, 
And cleave the closer to her rest 

Wherever life may flow. 

I watch the blue sea flowing in. 
The waves their white crests spill, 

And joy too great to be held in 
Doth my glad eyes o'er-fill. 

The ocean with its clapping hands, 

The sail out on the deep, 
The beach with myriad mellow sands, 

With me accord all keep. 

51 



52 nature's song. 

We all do chant the self-same praise, 

In onejour voices blend, 
One power keeps our myriad waj^s, 

One influence shapes our end. 

We all do sing the same glad song, 
One cry from many a tongue. 

For nature's anthem grand and strong 
By all her host is sung. 




ON SEA-CLIFFS HIGH AND LONE. 

Upon the craggy shore I dwell, 

On sea-cliffs high and lone ; 
Below, the sea its voice uplifts 

In hoarse and hollow moan. 

The screaming gull curls here her flight, 
Swift skims the tossing waves ; 

And beach and bar, and rock and scar. 
The great sea fondly laves. 

Down on yon black and foaming ledge 

The barnacles up-rear 
In lives of patient striving, slow 

Their wee homes year by year. 

The canny lobster by the point 

Plies in and out his caves. 
And rare pink star-fish float about 

Upon the strong-armed waves. 

53 



54 ON SEA-CLIFFS HIGH AND LONE. 

There lie the muscles closely packed, 
There crawls the laggard snail, 

The wary cunner darts about. 
There floats the sun-fish pale. 

There lives the sea-anemone 

There waves the kelp's brown hair. 

Dulse and sea-urcuins oft I draw 
From many a shingly lair. 

The hideous gape-mouthed sculpins wierd 

Like scavengers ashore, 
To seize and bolt all floating things 

Ply swift the finny oar. 

Here glad I dwell so near the sea 

I feel against my face 
The light-winged spray blown high and free 

0*er my high dwelling place. 

Here dwell I close upon the shore, 

Upon the very sea, 
And feel that deep companionship 

So much, so much to me. 



ON SEA-CLIFFS HIGH AND LONE. 55 

Here live I happy, day by day, 

And in the sea I trace 
God's love, and when the day is dead, 

I hear the waves say "grace." 

Companioned by the ocean gray, 

Fed by its beauty vast. 
No lone nor hungry heart is mine, 

AH lack, all want, is past. 

I eat out of the ocean's hand, 

I drink from out its cup. 
And listening to its voice sublime 

My soul is lifted up. 




SKIPPER CHARLIE. 

His boat, full fared, has long been in, 
For Skipper Charlie's trip is done ; 

The kids are full, the trawls are coiled. 
His day's brief voj^age is run. 

There in his sunny cottage-door. 
While the sun lingering sets, 

Sits Skipper Charlie bending low 
Mending his broken nets. 

He works and sings in a low, rich voice 

Some legend of the town. 
Some tale of wreck in a fearful gale. 

When vessel and crew went down. 

Some harrowing ocean-tale of woe, 
Some quaint and sad sea-song, 

Now swelling high, now dying low. 
Comes from his deep chest strong. 
56 



SKIPPER CHARLIE. 57 

The long bone needle swiftly plies 

The meshes in and out. 
And the parted nets under his hand 

Again grow whole and stout. 

Three children are playing about the door, 

He watches each wee girl, — 
Here's Gertie and Olie on the step, 

And yonder's little Pearl. 

The children play about the door. 

And in and out the stoop. 
Or climb his shoulders broad to ride 

With merry childish whoop. 

The skipper stops in the midst of his task 

The round of work forgets, 
As he stoops to kiss the cunning ones 

All tangled in his nets. 

All tangled and caught like so many fish 

In the folds and meshes fast, 
Till father with his great brown hands 

Sets them all free at last. 



58 SKIPPER CHARLIE. 

He works away on the low gra^' step, 

And up the evening sky, 
A weather-prophet sure and true. 

He casts his knowing eye. 

He thinks of the well-known grounds far out 

Where cod and haddock are ; 
And wonders what chance the morn may give 

To get outside the bar. 

To-da}^ is sure, to-morrow is not ; 

What a day may bring, who knows? 
He knows that the full boat just come in 

Is richer than one that goes. 

The sails that slant far down the bay 

And dot his strip of sea, 
To-morrow may proudly enter port, 

Or helpless sunk wrecks be. 

So wind and cloud, and sky and sea, 

With half shut eyes he scans, 
And working hearty all the while. 

Makes man}^ wise-laid plans. 



SKIPPER CHARLIE. 59 

The low, broad door is open wide — 

A voice within he hears 
Sweet toned, forgetting toil in song 

His listening heart that cheers. 

'Tis a song of love and peace and trust, 

A song from the Bible old. 
That tells that the warm heart singing it 

Is bright and pure as gold. 

The happy voice of a happy heart 

That is the world to him ; 
His eyes that look up from their work 

With joyful tears are dim. 

And the skipper listens and works away. 

His face is full of peace ; 
Not till the nets are meshed and corked 

Do the busy fingers cease. 

The mellow sun-beams lingering slant 

Athwart the open door ; 
The blinking cat sleeps purring on 

A sun-spot on the floor. 



60 SKIPPER CHARLIE. 

He works till he hears a welcome voice 
Sound the welcome supper-call, 

Then in the house his brawnj arms 
Carr}' the children small. 

And seated at his humble board 
He thanks the Lord for bread, 

And from each tiny lisping mouth 
A tender grace is said. 

Happy with wife and little ones 

As evening shadows grow, 
O skipper, brave good friend of mine, 

Thus ever may you go. 

Thus always may you pass through life. 

Nor know no grievous ill ; 
Thus may good health, our truest wealth, 

Your snug home's coflfers fill. 

Happy in wife and little ones. 
When the boat goes ©ut no more. 

Long may you rest in God's embrace 
Upon his peaceful shore. 



SKIPPER CHARLIE. 61 

Long may the sun shine brightly down, 

As it has shone to-day, 
And on the sea or on the land 

Make clear and bright j'our way. 

Long will the memory of this day, 

This scene of home-delight, 
Dwell in the heart that came to j'ou 

Homeless and lone to-night. 

Long will the happy memory 

Of pictures such as these 
Bless on its way a heart that fares 

Alone wide o'er life's seas. 

And for the heart}' good you do 

Unconsciously to-night, 
Affording thus the picture sweet 

Of home with glad hearts bright, 

This glimpse into home's Eden fair, 

Our earthly paradise, 
Wherein no wily serpent lurks 

To tempt us to be wise. 



62 SKIPPER CHARLIE. 

I give you blessings full and free, 
— Though you maj^ never know — 

Blessings that warmly pour from out 
A heart that loves you so. 




THE HOME-COMING. 

O patient hands that toil all day, 

O patient feet that run, 
O patient heart that waits at home 

Alone till day is done : 

O patient eyes that steadfast burn 

Fed by love's holy oil, 
O eyes that burn and glow and yearn. 

Forgetting care and toil ; 

That wistful follow him who goes 

Each day out on the sea. 
And with stout heart braves storm and wave 

To feed his babes and thee, 

Know that the open gleaming sea 

Is but God's safe high way. 
And that the bread cast on the wave 

Shall sure return one day. 

63 



64 THE HOME-COMING. 

Be sure the sweet home-coming shall 

Th}^ empty day well fill, 
That after hurried, anxious day, 

Comes even, happy, still. 

Be sure the sweet home-coming shall 
Make glad the snug home-nest. 

And drive those croaking cares awa}- 
That lurk within thy breast. 

Be sure this home-coming each day 
In from the treacherous sea. 

The greatest of all blessings is 
Unto thy babes and thee. 




WAITING FOR THE SHIP. 

"WHEN MY SHIP COMES IN." 

the tide goes out, and the tide comes in- 
And up and down the strand 

1 go, waiting if I may see 

My good ship make the land. 

the tide comes in, and the tide goes out- 
When the long days begin 

1 hie me out upon the cliffs 
To watch m}' ship come in. 

O the tide goes out, and the tide comes in- 

But I watch on each day, 
Hoping at last to see my ship 

Come sailing up the bay. 

O the tide comes in, and the tide goes out- 

But never a craft of mine, 
Of all yon sail that dot the blue, 

Sweeps grandly up the brine. 

65 



66 WAITING FOR THE SHIP. 

O the tide goes out, and the tide comes in - 

Yet never do I see 
In all yon fleet that gaily rides, 

The brave good ship for me. 

O the tide comes in, and the tide goes out 

Yet patient eveiy day 
To see my good ship coming in 

I trustful watch and pray. 

O the tide goes out, and the tide comes in- 

And I amid the din 
Of wave and rock, wait long and late 

Until my ship comes in. 

O the tide comes in, and the tide goes out- 

When I am stronger grown. 
Then from the land and from the strand, 

I'll put to sea alone. 

O the tide goes out, and the tide comes in- 

I know that soon or late. 
Out of the deep my pilot's voice 

Will call me as I wait. 



WAITING FOR THE SHIP. 67 

O the tide comes in, and the tide goes out — 

And 3'et, to life more vast, 
To deeper seas, diviner airs, 

I shall be called at last. 

the tide goes out, and the tide comes in — 
And so at peace within, 

1 trustful, patient, watch and wait 

To see ray ship come in. 

O the tide comes in, and the tide goes out — 

When I descr}' her sail 
How gladly will I welcome her, 

How gladly hear the hail. 

O the tide goes out, and the tide comes in — 

But from life's narrow shore, 
To deeper sea, to vaster life, 

I sail forevermore. 

O the tide comes in, and the tide goes out — 

Upon the deep I sail : 
Tides ebb and flow, winds come and go, 

My pilot can not fail. 



68 WAITING FOR THE SHIP. 

the tide goes out, and the tide comes in- 

And down the sea afar, 
I'll make at last my port of peace 

Where God's blest islands are. 

O the tide comes in, and the tide goes out- 

But soon at home I'll be. 
Where right is best, and life is rest, 

And there is no more sea. 




MY BOAT. 

M}' boat puts bravely out each morn 

In fair or storm}' weather, 
And out upon the sea far plies, 

Its finny fare to gather. 

All in the silence of the night, 
Or flush of morning's glory, 

I hear the steady oars beat time. 
And tell the same old story. 

And as the sunshine's radiance breaks 

In splendor o'er the river 
A manlj' heart to fresh life wakes, 

And thanks its gracious giver. 

I cannot keep my boat's full course. 
Nor trace out all its turning ; 

But this I know, where e'er it go, 
Its master's heart is yearning, — 



69 



70 MY BOAT. 

Yearning and watching all the while, 
Kissed bj- the gray sea tender, 

For somethincr greater than it hath, 
A life more full of splendor. 

So while the little boat each morn 
Hies to its daily mooring, 

The heart that mans it roams bej'ond 
In brave and earnest soaring. 

And while the busy fingers stout 
Swift under-run the trawling, 

A manly heart is heaving high. 
And manly tears are falling. 

And while the deft hands take the fish 
From out the brown net's measure. 

The happy, healthy heart exults 
In a far richer treasure. 

Long as the wee boat patient fares 
Each morning from the harbor, 

So long the heart will all its cares, 
With all a hero's ardor. 



MY BOAT. 71 

Cast full upon a Father's love 

And from His bounty borrow 
Those blessings that forever bless 

The past, to-da}', to-morrow. 

While thus m}' boat its curving course 

From day to day is steering, 
I know that heart to broader life 

Is steady, surelj', nearing. 

I know at last with all made fast, 

And riding snug at anchor. 
The brave heart free shall happy be, 

Held by some heavenly anchor. 

That by and by, when it and I 

The sails of faith are bending 
Neath bluer skies, through calmer seas. 

We'll find the rough voyage ending. 

And safely moored on other shores 
We shall have done our fishing, 

And find more than fulfilment there 
Of all our poor life's wishing. 



A CHILD OF THE SEA. 

"Father is dead, kind sir," at last 

The sad eyed maiden said ; 
"And brother Paul has gone away 

To earn our daily bread. 

Two years ago last summer gone, 

Father was lost at sea ; 
And, Paul away, mother is left 

Alone with children three. 

Where is our home ? We live up there 

In yonder little cot 
Thankful and tender each to each, 

And happy in our lot. 

When mother dear sits down to knit, 
And all the chores are done, 

I take Gracie and baby Fred 
To play out in the sun. 

72 



A CHILD OF THE SEA. 73 

I take them down upon the sands 

Just here before our door 
To watch the birds run up and down, 

The surf beat on the shore. 

My name is Alice, and I'll be 

Eleven come next June ; 
And mother says I am so smart 

ril be a woman soon. 

I watch the sea, and in my arms 

Sing baby Fred to sleep ; 
Then gather drift-wood far and near, 

And pile it in a heap. 

While Grade's playing in the sand 

I hear the sea's sad rote, 
And careful sew the buttons on 

Her little faded coat. 

O 3'es sir, we so snugly dwell 

Upon this seaside lea, 
And do not lack for anything, — 

Though father's lost at sea. 



10 



74 A CHILD OF THE SEA. 

For mother trusts the widow's God, 
And says, out of the deep 

God's star of love forever shines, 
His trusting ones to keep. 

Within our little home we are 

So cosey, as you see, 
I cannot, dear sir, understand 

How we could happier be. 

Good b}^, kind sir, for I must go ; 

There's mother in the door ; 
She always comes and calls us when 

The table's in the floor. 

So I shall take the children in 

And fill their little bowls, 
And tie the baby in his chair. 

Although he cries and scolds. 

Then when we've had our porridge hot, 
And cleared away each thing, 

Mother, with bab}' in her lap. 
Will read a Psalm and sing. 



A CHILD OF THE SEA. 



75 



And we do have such pleasant times- 

But I must haste awaj^ — 
Our life is full of shine and cheer — 

Thank you kind sir ! — Good day. 




A HAPPY HOME. 



A BENEDICTION. 



O happ3" house, O blessed home, 

God's kingdom upon earth, 
Where hope and faith and love abide. 

And peace broods o*er the hearth. 

O happy home, O dwelling fair. 

Where man and wife are one 
In hopes and aspirations, life, 

And deeds, done and undone. 

O happy roof to cover close 

Such happiness, such peace ; 
O happy house to shelter safe 

A love that shall not cease. 

No ampler hospitality 

E'er spread for me its board ; 
No grand hall gave so rich a fare 

As doth this cot afford. 

Never found I more lordly hosts. 

More regal welcome had, 
Than this which greets me warm to-night. 

And makes my heart so glad. 

76 



A HAPPY HOME. 77 

Never two hearts more ro3^al warm 

Their loyal welcome gave 
Than these that for their grateful guest 

Their utmost bounty save. 

Never more broadly entertained, 

Better companioned, I 
Than in this cottage by the sea. 

With only true friends nigh. 

Nor ever seemed I more at home 
Then where, where good friends be, 

The heart grows warm and strong and pure, 
Beside the steadfast sea. 

Honor be thine, O happy roof. 

Honor and joy and peace ; 
Long may the hearts that call thee home 

Beat glad with love's increase. 

Deep peace be thine, O cottage small 

Sure as the ocean's flow, 
To find thy warm hearts filled with love, 

And always keep them so. 



O GRAY SEA. 

O gray sea, from th}^ hidden treasure vast, 
Give me thy strength against the rising blast ; 

Give me thy depth where rare pearls hidden are, 
Give me thy faith to follow me afar ; 

Give me thy hope, my drifting heart to keep 
Safe anchored ever on God's ocean deep ; 

Give me a love that like thy boundless tide 
Rolls unrestrained — its crumbling bounds defied ; 

Give me sweet peace, my heart within to float, 
Like yonder bird, pruning her snowy coat ; 

Give me a heart, whose great love, like the wind, 
Knoweth no check, but ever unconfined 

Floweth abroad wherever life hath found 

A dwelling-place — in sky, or sea, or ground ; 

And, like the music from thy wave that swings, 
Its ceaseless anthem ever joyous sings. 

78 



FAREWELL THOU SEA ! 

From these dear scenes I soon shall pass, 

Pass to return no more ; 
But alwa3's will the billows beat 

On my beloved shore. 

Forever will the rush and roar 

Of the unceasing tide, 
Whatever comes, whatever goes, 

Sweep up these cliffs beside. 

Forever will the sink and swell, 

The restless ebb and flow, 
Over these lonely golden sands 

Unfailing come and go. 

But never upon cliff or scar 

Shall happier mortal be 
Than he who comes alone to-day 

To worship sun and sea. 

79 



80 FAREWELL THOU SEA. 

Yet never by the rocks and caves. 

Or b}' the shining sand, 
Shall come a fonder child than he 

Who walks to-day the strand. 

Never shall truer lover come, 

O holy, peaceful sea, 
Than he who comes to-day and throws 

His trusting heart on thee. 

A love more free could never be 

In human heart from thine, 
Never a fonder child could come 

To dwell beside the brine. 

Never a fuller heart could dwell 

More peacefully with thee, 
More thankful breathe the sweet, salt air, 

And feed upon the sea. 

Far greater lives than mine will come 

To dwell upon thy shore ; 
But none will ever come I know, 
O sea, to love thee more. 



FAREWELL THOU SEA. 81 

So farewell ocean, vast and gray ! 

Farewell ye countless waves ! 
Oood-b3'e, ye echoing crags and cliffs ! 

Good-bye ye deep, sad caves ! 

O yellow sands, that day and night 

The wilful tide plays o'er, 
Your friend, sad-hearted, goes to-day, 

Goes to return no more. 

O sand-birds bravely pipe and run, 

Listen, and say good-bye ; 
Your hermit-friend must turn and go 

Before yon rich clouds die. 

O sea-birds on the billows there, 

Preening 3'our snow}^ wings, 
Your firm, fond friend says sad "Good-bye." 

To all sea-loving things. 

O beach and bar, and foaming point, 
Let your soft, white-winged spray. 

As with an angel's peace-drooped wing, 
Enfold me where I stray. 



82 FAREWELL THOU SEA. 

O waste of waters infinite, 
Thou ocean, best of friends. 

Let th}' sweet influence follow close 
Where e*er this short life tends. 

Let me, wherever dutj^'s low 
Firm voice doth summon me. 

Feel when alone and weary oft 
Thj' presence sweet, O sea. 

Whenever memory fondlj' yearns. 
And wistful turns to thee, 

Bless thou thy trusting child again, 
O faithful, steadfast sea. 




A SONG OF THE HEART. 

My little life is full of song, — 

What joy is mine, 
Led on by God from day to day 

Beside His brine ! 

And deep-set tides of joy arise 

And flow abroad. 
And swelling, fill these brimming eyes 

That spill their hoard. 

I only know, that, like the sea, 

The Lord's am I ; 
And thankful by it live out His 

Good plan for aye. 

Held in the scheme divine, my life 

Is sweet and sure. 
And like an endless song flows on 

Serene and pure. 

A child of sun and sea and shore, 

Little I heed 
The world, knowing within I have 

All to my need. 



83 



64 A SONG OF THE HEART. 

And SO upon the sea-kissed cliffs 

I happy stray, 
On the warm breast of nature oft 

My full heart lay. 

I lay me down and listen what 

She hath to tell 
Unto the trusting child she keeps 

And loves so well. 

O joj^ous, happy heart, alway 

Let it be so ! 
Let the sweet tide of song within 

Thee rise and flow. 

The little instrument played on 

By God's good ways, 
Be glad, content, O feeble reed, 

To pipe His praise. 

Dear happy heart, trust on, and keep 

Thy wondrous peace, 
That, like the sea's sweet song to God, 

Shall never cease. 



PASSING ON. 

I do not mourn for those who go, 

And leave me here ; 
But * 'God-speed" wish them on their way 

Without a tear. 

I know that when earth's race is run. 

Father will call, 
And to the dear home-countr}' will 

Gather us all. 

And so I grieve not, though a friend 

Should pass before ; 
Because I know the less of earth. 

Of heaven the more ; 

Because I know that what God wills 

Is wholly right ; 
And, tho' I see not here, above 

All will be light. 

85 



86 PASSING ON. 

Because I know and trust the love 

That each and all 
Enfolds and comprehends for aye, 

Or great or small. 

And so while friends are passing on 

Unto our home, 
I only say "good-bye," and wait 

Where billows foam 

Upon life's sounding sea-beat shore, 

Content to be 
Doing God's will, safe in His love 

Eternally. 

And so I live and toil and trust, 
Knowing at last 

— All trusts fulfilled and duties done- 
Each bright goal passed — 

I shall pass on, my life rounded 

And made complete. 
To sit and sing forever at 

My Saviour's feet. 



"0 TENDER, INFINITE, GRAY SEA." 

Could life beside the ocean e'er 

Be weak or small? 
Thou ocean vast keep me, and be 

Mine all in all. 

Could one upon the ocean's shore 

E'er lack a home ? 
Or, from its sheltered harbor snug, 

Wish far to roam ? 

Could one be sad who called the sea 

His very own ? 
Or, with the sea's companionship 

E'er feel alone ? 

Could one beside the singing brine 

E'er songless be ! 
Ah, into this glad life of mine, 

Blessed by the sea, 

Never a darkening doubt shall come. 

Sorrow or pain ; 
Nor aught evil within this heart 

An entrance gain. 

87 



88 "O TENDER INFINITE GRAY SEA" 

For littleness there is no room 

Within a life 
That takes its untamed grandeur from 

The ocean's strife. 

How could a heart fed by the sea 

In everything, 
Be ever speechless, or how could 

It choose but sing ? 

O gra}^ sea, steadfast guardian of 

This restless life, 
Keep thou this singing heart 

In peace or strife. 

O sea, be father, brother, friend. 

Unto this heart 
That loves and feeds on thee with all 

A lover's art. 

tender infinite gray sea ! 

O deep, deep breast ! 
My chief delight in life, be thou 

At last my rest ! 



THEN, AND NOW. 

I said : 
T can not tell what waits for me 
Be^'ond that rim of curving sea : 
I know not what the fate in store 
When boldly I put out from shore ; 
What lands at last my bark maj^ win, 
What threads for me the fates mR\ spin, 
Nor what the coming days shall bring, 
Unto what port my bark shall wing. 

I say : 
But faith shall be m}' polar star 
To guide me sure o'er waters far. 
To where those unknown islands lie 
Whose shores are lapped in fadeless sky. 
Dear heart, be brave to meet the fate 
Halfwa}', never b}- accident 
Or chance to struggling mortals sent 
By angels from the Heavenly gate. 
Be brave in battle ! O heart, know 
If sorely pressed, God willed it so ; 
And thank Him for the strength and grace 
To stand in thine alloted place. 
12 89 



A LITTLE BROWN NEST BY THE SEA. 

I have a nest, a snug little nest, 

As snug as any linnet, 
A little brown nest with roses dressed, 

And a sweet brave heart within it. 

And I put out each favoring morn 
In my boat on the broad gray ocean. 

And m)'- thoughts all day to that brown nest run, 
And the dear wife's sweet devotion. 

I know the mother-bird carefully keeps 

That home-nest all sweet for me. 
And loving and tender all the day 

Tends our three babies bonnie. 

And I am sure when the night comes down 
And my boat to the bay is bending, 

I shall see the light from my nest on the hill 
Its bright ray cheerily sending ; 
90 



A LITTLE BROWN NEST BY THE SEA. 91 

That, when in the dark I make the land, 

Up the harbor still am sailing, 
I shall catch the gleam of a small lamp trimmed 

By a hand and heart unfailing. 

I know that when up the hill-side steep 

My weary feet are pressing, 
A door will open to welcome me, 

And a heart, its love confessing. 

And there with Heaven in her fond eyes 
My good sweet wife will meet me ; 

With her loyal eyes, and her loyal heart, 
In her own sweet way will greet me. 




THE SEA'S LESSON. 

The sluggish tide crept up the yellow sand, 
And, lost in mist, the sun sank o'er the land : 

Lonely and late, along the lonel}' beach 
There passed a youth whose mission was to 
teach 

That beauty round about him every where. 
The beauty in the earth and sea and air ; 

T6 show to all that rare and marvellous light, 
To them that had not his far reaching sight. 

With eye and heart athirst for light and love 
He saw the sea look to the heavens above, 

And mirror on its own deep, billowy breast 
The light of heaven, its peace and love and rest. 

And then he caught the secret of the sea 
And cried, "O ocean, give thou unto me 
92 



THE sea's lesson. 93 

To show in every drear and needy place 
The reflex light of heaven in my face ! 

Give me, like thee, to take and hold in store 
Unmeasured beauty flowing more and more ; 

Give me to scatter wisely, far and free. 
Blessings to all, as thou dost do, O sea ! 

Give me a heart divinely brave and strong 
To sing, like thee, its fair eternal song !" 




A PARTING HAIL. 

O beauteous ships that stud the far off sk}- 
With looming mast and shapel}' tower of sail, 
That drop awaj^ to other seas and lands 
With yards all slant wise to the favoring gale, 

O bear on with ye, down yon distant brine, 
Thro' other seas, to other shores and men. 
These parting God-speeds from these hearts of 

ours. 
And stay not long, come swift to us again. 

Sail grandly up the sea and enter port, 
—The harbor of our hearts, wide open thrown — 
Furl all 3^our snowy sails, both anchors set, 
And rest ye in the port of home, sweet home. 

For here among your own, true rest is found ; 
Here, howsoever wide your voyaging be. 
However long and free your roamings are, 
Here is your home, the haven sure for ye ! 
94 



A PARTING HAIL. 95 

Here bring your golden bales, and precious 

freights. 
The trophies rare from many a distant clime, 
Here will your cargoes fetch their truest worth, 
And life will beat to love's fair golden chime. 




THE "POOR JIM." 

A yesiT ago last April sailed 
The ''Poor Jim" stiff and staunch ; 

A better boat was never seen, 
Nor man will ever launch. 

At dawn the schooner wore away 

And stood off from the shore, 
Then laid her course straight for the banks, 

And to the southeast bore. 

A trigger craft ne'er left the cape, 

Nor proudly sailed the bay, 
Than "Poor Jim" wearing off the land 

That fatal April day. 

She made a quick run to the banks 

And joined the busy fleet. 
And soon the hold with a grand fare 

Her crew had filled complete. 

96 



THE ''POOR JIM." 97 

One da}' with colors proudl}" set, 

Her finii}' mission done, 
She hailed the fleet "good-bye," and sailed 

Upon her homeward run. 

But never since that day she left 

The banks with hopes elate 
Has sign or token ever come 

Of the poor schooner's fate. 

No token ever reached the port 

From o'er the treacherous blue, 
No floating corpse, nor spar, to tell 

Of vessel or of crew. 

No bottled message, at the last 

Dread hour cast over board ; 
No wreckage, floating far to bear 

One hope, one longed for word. 

No bloated bodies drifting slow 

Upon the changeful swell 
To tell the piteous, awful tale, 

That dead men sometimes tell. 

13 



98 THE '*POOR JIM." 

For never on the foaming sea, 

Along the trackless main, 
Like some tired bird unto its nest, 

Came the boat back again. 

And so upon the lonely cape 

Are weary hearts that wait 
For boat and crew, long over-due. 

And roaming long and late. 

Thro' anxious da3^s, and sleepless nights. 

Thro' months that come and go, 
Upon that bleak and sea-swept cape 

Wait sad hearts sunk in woe. 

O hearts that wait so long and late 
To welcome thro' your tears 

The "Poor Jim" into port again. 
Moored safe beside the piers — 

O bleeding hearts that call and cry 

Unto the cruel waves 
To give your dear ones back again, 

The dead from out their graves — 



THE "poor JIM." 99 

Be patient ! For, tho' ne'er again 

May come loved boat and crew 
Sailing all proudl}' up the shore 

To hearts that wait so true, 

At last upon a calmer sea. 

Upon a fairer day, 
Ye glad shall stand upon the strand 

And welcome up the bay 

The dear old boat, the gallant crew. 

Your dear ones welcome home, 
And all safe anchored in one port 

Never again to roam. 

So wait, and murmur not, O hearts ! 

God's love is o'er ye spread. 
Peace ! And be still, O hearts, until 

The sea gives up its dead ! 



THE SAILING OF THE "LILY." 

The ship slow wound the river down 

Along the rocky shore ; 
At last she reached the harbor's mouth, 

At last the bar passed o'er. 

I hastened to the head to watch 
Thro' misty, tear-dimmed glass, 

Bearing my valued friend away, 
The graceful "Lily" pass. 

Outside the bar she briefl}' paused 

To shake out all her sail, 
Then like a white gull skimmed along 

Before the freshening gale. 

I saw the skipper at the wheel 
Look backward to the land, 

And brush the falling tears away 
Upon his horny hand. 

100 



THE SAILING OF THE "LILY." 101 

I watched him through the faithful glass, 

I watched, and saw him gaze 
Once, long and earnest to the hill, 

The home of happ}' da^'s. 

And then with sweetness in his face. 

The hero in his eyes, 
Collect himself, and bear hard down 

Upon the w^heel that flies. 

O brave firm friend, go on and on, 

To work across the wave. 
And earn the utmost that thou canst, 

'Tis little thou canst save. 

O brave and earnest manly heart, 

O sailor friend of mine, 
Who for the dear ones all at home 

Sailest upon the brine ; 

Who now to keep thy precious ones. 
Who now for love's sweet sake, 

Leav'st happy home and loving ones 
Tho' heart should sigh and break. 



102 THE SAILING OF THE *'lILY." 

Be brave ! And keep thy trustful heart, 

And teach it not to fear, 
— Nor space nor time can separate — 

Our loved are always near, 

Be patient, brother mariner. 

Sail thou in trust the deep ! 
And know the unerring pilot will 

Thy lonely course safe keep- 
Know thou that heavy hearts at home 

For thee will call and yearn. 
And that a light, love-tended, fed, 

For thee will steadfast burn. 

Be patient, brother mariner. 
Sail steadfast o'er the sea ! 

After the weary voyage is run, 
Home's harbor waits for thee. 

Sail on, and breast whatever waves 
God in His love sends thee ! 

Fear not, like Peter weak in faith, 
To walk upon the sea. 



THE SAILING OF THE "LILY." 103 

Sail on, toil on, press on, O friend, 
Thro' Spring, Summer and Fall, 

God walks with thee the weary days, 
And keeps thy moments all. 

I can not shout cheer}' good-byes, 

But sad low tones must use, 
My too-full heart can only beat 

Its muffled "God bless yous." 

O patience, brother mariner ! 

Firm grasp the laboring oar ! 
One day the voyage shall ended be, 

When thou shalt toil no more ! 




MY PRAYER. 

Each da}' to grow more sweet and tender 

A nobler, purer man, 
Each day repa}' life's holy lender, 

And work out God's great plan ; 

Each day to sail life's wondrous ocean 

And ever onward steer ; 
To live and toil in brave devotion 

Until the port draw near ; 

Each day to trust God's holy orders, 

Sailing with Him the seas. 
With angel pilots, angel warders — 

Secure with such as these ; 

Each da}^ toward the unknown haven 

To sail with orders sealed. 
Trusting all in the light of Heaven 

At last shall be revealed ; 
104 



MY PRAYER. 105 

Trusting for chart and compass steady 

The guidance of God's hand, 
His love all-reaching, ever ready, 

To waft me to the land ; 

Each day to sail and cast my anchor 

A little nearer home, 
Until at last I shall drop anchor 

Be3'ond the billow's foam. 

Inside the line of restless breakers 

Upon the harbor's calm, 
Within the wall of breaking billows 

That shall no more alarm ; 

Each day to fearless on be pressing 

Over an unknown sea — 
Thus is my steadfast heart confessing, 

This, this my prayer shall be. 

To where the harbor lights of Heaven 

Bright o'er the waters glow, 
And I sail in upon my haven 

Because God wills it so ; 

14 



106 MY PRAYER. 

Thus on with faith's devout assistance 

Until, her voyage past, 
M}' soul her humble poor existence 

On God's great love shall cast ; 

To sail with hope and love unbounded 

Upon God's holy sea, 
Until my life by Him is finished, rounded, 

This, this my prayer shall be. 




TO AN OUT-BOUND SHIP. 

I stand and watch them from the shore, 

The white ships steal away 
Silently down into the blue, 

All at the close of day. 

And from the cliffs bold brow I watch 
Thro' eyes made dim with tears 

One ship closer than all the rest, 
As sea-ward swift she veers. 

For yon white sail in offing faint 

Than others fairer seems, 
And proudly, amid all the fleet. 

Her snowy canvass gleams. 

For there upon her wind-swept deck, 

Upon her sea-worn floor, 
Stands one I love to name as friend 

Fast falling from the shore. 

107 



108 TO AN OUT-BOUND SHIP. 

And so, more than the others all, 

I watch this faithful ship 
Grow far and faint, and drop below 

The ocean's curving lip. 

More beauteous ships my eyes descry, 

A-dancing o'er the foam ; 
But this one dearer holds m}^ heart, 

Wherever she may roam. 

An hundred sail glide swiftly by ; 

But one I call my own ; 
And lean toward with joyous shout, 

'Tis she I watch alone. 

And so I stand and watch my ship 
With eye and heart abrim, 

Till hull and sail fade into fleck, 
And all the world grows dim. 

And when the night draws darkly down 

I follow her unseen. 
And love to think her sailing on 

Beneath a sk}' serene. 



TO AN OUT-BOUND SHIP. 109 

I follow her with earnest thought, 

Follow to every port ; 
Wherever 1115' brave friend shall roam, 

There shall he find m}^ heart. 

And so at home I wait and watch 

The days, like ships, go by ; 
And swift, with rosy canvass spread. 

Sail down the evening sky. 

And love to think of my good friend 

Be^'ond the distant sea. 
And wonder where his vessel fares. 

And where her port may be. 

I love to think each closing day 

Those steadfast eyes of blue 
Are gazing back to home and me, 

All earnest, fond, and true. 

I love to think how this dear heart, 

Loving, tender, and brave. 
Will fearless sail for love's sweet meed. 

And patient breast the wave 



110 TO AN OUT-BOUND SHIP. 

Until with patience he hath brought 
To end the voyages all, 

And eager, happ}', home returns 
Unto his cottage small. 

I love to trustful give him thus 
Into the dear Lord's care. 

With a full heart and misty eye, 
And just a little prayer. 

And thus I love to sit, and think, 
And in the dear Lord's hand 

Leave all my dear ones, far or near. 
Upon the sea or land. 




OGUNQUIT CHURCH. 

I love a little church that stands 

Hard b}' the sea-swept shore, 
Where swift the tidal waters rush, 

And ocean billows roar. 

O little church, O little church, 

Uprising from the sea, 
Thou art in all the wide, wide world 

The dearest church to me. 

Thou givest peace and quietude 

Deep running as the sea. 
And blessings by the sea kept sweet 

Are alwaj^s mine from thee. 

O little church, O little church. 

Upon thy porch I wait 
For odorous, sea-blown messages 

That throng thy narrow gate. 

Ill 



112 OGUNQUIT CHURCH. 

I enter glad th}' lowh' hall, 
Choosing the sea-board side, 

Near the sea-window, alwaj's in 
The summer open wide. 

Like a good child I calmly sit 

Within my windowed pew, 
Feast eyes and soul with visions of 

Yon briny ocean blue. 

And while the earnest parson tries 

In meagre, half-clad speech 
The tales oft told, yet never old, 

My hungering soul to teach. 

My mind is roaming with my heart 

Out 3'onder to the beach. 
Where best for me the great waves speak, 

And life's deep lessons teach. 

little church, O little church, 
I love thy peaceful ways, 

1 love thy preacher's honest face, 

I love his homely phrase, 



OGUNQUIT CHURCH. 113 

That tells the olden story o'er 

In words of living fire ; 
I listen gladly to the hymns 

Raised by thy full- voiced choir ; 

I love thy whole-souled worship, that 

Is more of heart than mind ; 
I love the manly friends that sit 

Before me and behind. 

I love thy weather-beaten spire, 

Thy vane with sea-ward slant, 
To which the sea-men, weather- wise, 

Their knowing e3'es oft cant. 

Dear is thy presence oft to me. 

The sabbath of thy smiles. 
And dear the old familiar rote 

Swept up thy sea-blown aisles. 

Dear as thou art, O little church. 

Unto this heart of mine, 
I love thee more because thou art, 

Like me, blessed by the brine. 



114 OGUNQUIT CHURCH. 

For more to me than minster pile 
These teachings of the wave, 

And more than sect or church or creed, 
The thought that God can save. 

And closest do I feel that might 
That keeps me hour by hour, 

When in the sea I find revealed 
God's boundless love and power. 

Dear art thou to my heart, O church ! 

A5'e, doubly dear to me ! 
Since, Lo ! Through thee I look and find 

Christ walking on the sea. 




THE HIDDEN SEA. 

I love to go when bright the day 

Breaks o'er the summer sea 
Out on the cliffs alone, and sweep 

Th' horizon, far and free. 

And there to watch the far off ships 

'Gainst sky and water clear, 
All like some costly cameo, 

For dainty beauty dear. 

But most, and best of all, I love 

The dim and misty days. 
When sea and shore are wrapped in fog, 

And lapped in silver haze. 

Those days sweet-breathed and tender, by 

The white fog softly kissed. 
When earth and sea and sky are veiled. 

And life is lost in mist. 

115 



116 THE HIDDEN SEA. 

Yon waves, that in their noisy caves 

I hear, but can not see, 
Teach me, tho' blind, to trust alway 

In God's great myster}-. 

Teach me with voices that command, 

And wondrous eloquent. 
To take God at His word, and to 

Accept what He hath sent ; 

To take life as He gives it, all 

Mysterious, unseen. 
And on life's page of rugged lines 

His goodness read between ; 

To Him who gives these paths revealed 

To trust for hidden ways. 
To look up to that love eterne 

Whose mercy never strays. 

So gladly on these misty days 

I hie me to the shore. 
And take life's story up again, 

And read it o'er and o'er. 



THE HIDDEN SEA. 117 

Devout I listen to the waves 

I hear, j^et can not see, 
And marvel at the love of God 

That reaches unto me. 

I trust the wisdom that from us 

All future-knowledge holds. 
And human weakness, human sin, 

Forgives, and close enfolds. 

I let the mighty hidden sea 

Speak to my listening heart — 
Too blind and weak to read God's plan 

I, trusting, act my part. 

Too short to fathom God's deep love 

My human plummet line. 
Too weak for aught but to Him cling 

Is this poor heart of mine. 

I hear the misty, unseen sea 

This precious truth confide. 
That God, tho' blinded eyes see not, 

Follows our roamings wide. 



118 THE HIDDEN SEA. 

I hear the waters rise and sing, 

In all 3'on noisy caves ; — 
There is one power that life sustains, 

There is one love that saves. 

And so I love to listen lone 

Just at the dawn of day 
To God's love, hid, mysterious. 

Told by the ocean gray. 

I love to thank Him for the light 
By life's dim day revealed ; 

For love, that like the mist-bound sea, 
Can not be all concealed ; 

And pray that He will lead me on. 

And in His love enfold 
A life that withers as the grass — 

A tale that soon is told. 

The mighty pseans of God's love 
Ring in 3'on hidden seas — 

What wonder that this life is glad, 
With blessings such as these ! 



THE HIDDEN SEA. 



119 



How well yon waves their story tell ! 

How sweet the ocean sings ! 
Lo ! Thro' j^on mist my ej'es descry 

The rush of golden wings ! 




LINES TO A HUMAN BONE. 

FOUND WASHED ASHORE UNDER ISRAEL'S HEAD. 

O white bone in the great deep lost, 
Long by relentless waters tossed ; 

Washed by the deep-set tides, and cast 
Upon this rocky shore at last, 

Scoured b}^ the sands, to dry and bleach 
Above the tide-mark's highest reach. 

Amid the shingle and the drift 

That great tides winnow out and sift : 

Cast on the rocks to grimly greet 
The coming of my lonely feet : 

Cast on the shore to rest, and say 
To him that findeth thee to-day ; — 

"O good, my brother, take thou heed. 
Live as becomes thine utmost need ! 

120 



LINES TO A HUMAN BONE, 121 

And know that not till life shall cease 
Shall come to thee the perfect peace." 

Washed high ashore to tell the tale 
Of piteous wreck, of awful gale, 

Of frenzied curse, and shriek and pra3'er, 
Commingled on the shuddering air ; 

How in the hungr}' water's flow 

Went down the good bark, settling slow 

Into the sea's engulfing arms, 
To realms of water}' alarms. 

How short the struggle, brief the fight, 
The weakness vain of human might ! 

O relic of some brother's end, 
O trophy sad of sailor friend. 

Speak to me ! Be not silent now ! 
'Tis all I ask of thee that how, — 

Since never, never from the main 
Awake the dead to life again — 

To live thou'lt teach me, and to die ; 
How best to act with peril nigh ; 



122 LINES TO A HUMAN BONE. 

How, well to die, but most to live, 
So that, a steward, I may give 

Unto the Master good account, 
A flowing measure, fair amount ; 

That, heeding not what end may come, 
I patient wait the welcome ''Come !" 




THE GULL ROCK. 

Down at the winding river's mouth 

When the tide has ebbed far out, 
A long, black rock, from out the sands 

Raises its smutty snout. 

And there, by hundreds in the sun 

When the low tide faintly sings, 
Come the laughing, chattering, screaming gulls 

To preen their silv'ry wings. 

Squatting so closely each to each, 

That the ledge can not be seen, 
They perch and gossip cosil}', 

And eat the mussels green. 

So thickly perches the snowy clan 

The ledge is a thing of life. 
And would almost seem to rise and soar 

Above the billow's strife. 

123 



124 THE GULL ROCK. 

Hour after hour thej sit asleep 

With head beneath the wing, 
Or else disturb their neighbors all, 

And scream, and laugh, and sing. 

The}'^ perch in peace, and sun themselves, 

A gaj- , harmonious band, 
Till the laggard tide comes crawling up 

Across the broad, flat sand, 

And reaches in its sure advance 

The ramparts of the rock. 
And white-tipped, thundering volleys belch 

And smite with shivering shock. 

And serried lines of waves charge up 

Like soldiers at a fort. 
While many a glistening phalanx sweeps, 

White-plumed, to give support, 

And reach, and clutch, and flow around, 

And deluge in their spite. 
The fortress strong they can not shake 

With all their skill and might. 



THE GULL ROCK. 125 

Then rise the gulls — a snowy cloud — 

On tireless wings to soar. 
And sail like phantoms in delight 

Along the sounding shore. 

How swift the}^ rush ! How high they fly ! 

Then sweep with pinions set 
High over all the leaping spray, 

Above the gray sands wet. 

For well they know in a few hours 

Again the rock will be 
Triumphant, left all dry b}' the 

Vanquished, retreating sea. 

And so they rise and soar awa}' — 
What grace, what ease, what might ! 

In wondrous, airy, gleaming curves, 
And graceful lines of flight. 

Screaming and laughing at their wild 

Mad revels in the air. 
Until again the ledge shall be 

Left for them fresh and bare. 



MY FRIENDS THE SHIPS. 

See ! To and fro, and bending low 

Where yonder beacon dips, 
Lean the tall masts and gleam the sails 

Of my good friends the ships. 

Swift east and west they silent hie, 

Hugging the rock}' shore. 
Nor seem to fear the sunken reefs, 

Nor hear the surf's low roar. 

Around the frowning bald high cliff, 
This way and that they slant ; 

Out from the cliff 's deep shade they run 
Heeled down with graceful cant. 

Against the cliffs in bold relief 

How beautiful the}' stand ! 
White wings athwart the bold dun rocks. 

Like gulls upon the strand. 
126 



MY FRIENDS THE SHIPS. 12 7 

Steadfast the trust}' messengers 

Of love and commerce ply ; 
Steadfast in calm or tempest, there 

Are brave hearts beating high. 

I love to watch my noble ships 
— They all, all, all are mine ! — 

And tenderly I follow them 
Afar upon the brine. 

I fond and wistful watch them all 

As in and out they veer, 
In purple distance, low and faint, 

Or in the offing clear. 

All day I follow earnestl}', 

Mark how each course is run, 
All day their brother-heart looks out 

Until the set of sun, 

And yonder stately watch towers tall 

Lift their great patient ej^es 
That burn to guide, to comfort, and 

To guard against surprise. 



128 3IY FRIENDS THE SHIPS. 

E'en then I brood upon the ships 
Tho' eye and ear do fail, — 

Tho' perish all the weaker sense. 
The strong heart will prevail. 

So in fair dreams I see mj- ships 

A-tacking off the shore, 
And watch the ghostly caravan 

Sweep o*er the ocean-floor ; 

And love to think the same great law 
That guides yon bonny fleet. 

Guides and protects ray life as well. 
Me too keeps pure and sweet. 




AARON AND LEANDER. 

Two staunch, sea-faring friends have I 

Dwelling upon the shore, 
Whose names upon the salt sea-air 

Come to me o'er and o'er — 
Two jolly, jovial friends have I 

In Aaron and Leander. 

» 

Two fearless, strong, free-hearted souls 

Who dwell hard b}' the sea. 
Whose friendship on the ocean wind 

Flows strong and sure to me — 
Two sturdy, manly friends indeed 

Are Aaron and Leander. 

Content and happy the}^ abide 

Each in his sea-side lot. 
And walk with patience thro' those cares 

That fill each lowly lot — 
Strong, staunch and true, always true-blue, 

Are Aaron and Leander. 
17 129 



130 AAR05 AND LEANDER. 

Their cose}' homes are on the shore. 
But most thoir lives are spent 

Upon the sea with trawl and line. 
At weary oars long bent — 

For fearless, hardy fishermen 
Are Aaron and Leander. 

All that they have is from the sea, 
Their snug homes and their health. 

All their possessions come from it. 
And therein lies the wealth 

That in the future days shall keep 
Brave Aaron and Leander. 

With cunning craft they trim the sail. 
And man the trembling oar, 

And skillful sink their lobster-pots 
Just off the rocky shore — 

Two rosy, roisterous lobster-men 
Are Aaron and Leander. 

How stealthy creep they to the ledge, 

Cat-like along the rocks, 
To smite with fire the startled fowl 



AARON AND LEANDER. 131 

Bedded in clamorous flocks — 
For dauntless, peerless sportsmen sure 
Are Aaron and Leander. 

Gaily each morn, blow high, blow low, 

They launch their boats away, 
And sing while dancing o'er the waves, 

Tho' fiercely flies the spray — 
For ruddy, deep voiced sailor lads 

Are Aaron and Leander. 

Thro' short years filled with busy days 

My life rolls swift awa^^. 
But oft I pause to listen when 

The wind is from the ba}^, 
For songs and shouts I love to hear 

Of Aaron and Leander. 

For when the wind is east I seem 

My sea-brothers to meet, 
And feel that by the sea is kept 

Our friendship strong and sweet — 
That friendship always j'ours and mine 

O Aaron and Leander. 



132 AARON AND LEANDER. 

And so, in this world and the next. 
We, pressing heart and hand 

Will oft sea pearls of friendship trace 
Strewn o'er life's ocean strand, 

That mark a friendship always ours 
O Aaron and Leander. 

Yes, two brave, brawny friends have I 
Fast by the salt sea's tide ; 

Beneath their rugged strength I know 
Two tender warm hearts hide : — 

Yes, two staunch, loyal friends have I 
In Aaron and Leander. 




LINES WRITTEN ON THE FLY-LEAF OF 
''IMITATIO DE CHRISTI." 

GIVEN TO A SAILOR FRIEND, C. F. P. 

Know that each day I softl}' say 

dear friend, "God bless 3'ou !" 
And ask God in His own good way 

Your life to keep so true. 

I ask Him every morn that dawns, 

1 ask Him every eve, 

With His own hand your bark to steer. 
And into port receive 

At last, when its short course is run — 

And firm my faith, O friend. 
That God my prayer will kindly heed. 

And keep you to the end. 

Your course is mine, and mine is 3'ours, 

For always true friends sail 
So close with God, life's broad deep seas. 

They're never out of hail. 

133 



134 LINES WRITTEN ON THE FLY LEAF OF 
"IMITATIO DE CHRISTI." 

Trusting one common pilot they 

Unto the same port steer ; 
While oft from neighboring decks ring out 

The mutual hails of cheer. 

So tenderly God guides His own 

Thro' life, in calm or gale, 
His children, drawing nigh to port, 

Are always within hail. 

My course is yours, and j'ours is mine — 

And like a song of cheer, 
Your voice, deep ringing in my heart, 

O friend, I thankful hear. 




GOD'S LOVE AND MINE. 

God's love is like a light-house tower, 

My love is like the sea ; 
By day by night, that faithful tower 

Looks patient down on me. 

By day the stately shaft looms high, 
By night its strong lights burn 

To warn, to comfort, and to tell 
The way that I should turn. 

God's love is like a light-house tower, 

M}' love is like the sea : 
He strong, unshaken as the rock — 

I, chafing restlessly. 

God's love and my love— how sweet 
That such should be my joy ! 

God's love and mine are one to-day ! 
No longer doubts annoy. 

135 



136 GOD*S LOVE AND MINE. 

By day or night he gazes on 

My bitter, brackish sea ; 
Forever tends it with His grace, 

Tho' smooth or rough it be. 

So singing at its base, it rolls 
And leaps toward that tower 

That all m}^ life illuminates. 
And brightens every hour. 

God's love is like a light-house tower, 

My love is like the sea ; 
I, peevish, changeful, moaning much, 

Steadfast, eternal. He. 




UNCLE HIRAM'S STORY. 

"Se' down on that trawl-tub. Doctor, 
"While I shock the rest o' these clams, 

An' I'll spin 3'e a yarn like ye never heard 
In this nor forron lan's.'' 

*'One night of a wild November," 
Said the skipper, speaking slow, 

*'The hail and the sleet come a-stiugin' down. 
The wind no'theast did blow. 

I'd jest turned in for the night yer see. 

In my cottage snug an' warm, 
Thankful that my old hulk was moored 

In port, safe from the storm. 

I hadn't more'n jest ketched asleep 

When the boomin' of a gun 
Brought me right back to life agin, 

An' my night's rest was done. 



18 



137 



138 UNCLE hiram's story. 

Come a second boom over the water — 

' 'There's a vessel ashore," I said ; 
An' I jumped up an' fetched a marster spring. 

An' leaped right out o' bed. 

* 'Great God, there's a schooner ashore !" says 1 ; 

'Twarnt fur off, neither, I knew. 
An' that solum gun a-boomin loud, 

Seemed nigh's I be to you. 

It froze the blood in my veins, Doctor, 

An' my heart it weighed a ton 
As I thought of that sciiooner on the rocks, 

An' the men whose voyage was run. 

In my oil-skins an' ole sou-wester 

I run ri daown t'er the tieade. 
An' all along on the foamin' bar 

Them ragin' combers made. 

There on her beam-ends was a schooner 

Hard a-fast on that breakin' bar ; 
I could hear the thumpin' of her hull, 

An' the gratin' of a spar. 



UNCLE HIRAM's STORY. 139 

I see thet she was a fisherman 

By the bait-mill washed ashore, 
An' the trawls an' seines ketched on the rocks, 

An' spread along the shore. 

An, lashed onto her fore-riggin. 

Now wha' der yer think I see. 
But two poor helpless freezin' men 

Prayin' an' cryin' ter me ! 

My heart stood still as I listened, 

An' I thought I should a flew — 
But God ! I could only stan' an' watch ! — 

There warnt nothing thet I could do. 

How I prayed that I might save em, 

How I longed to help em out — 
But that sea ! God ! All thet I could do 

Was ter stan' an' wave an' shout. 

1 hollered, tho' I knowed they couldn't hear, 
— The wind was blowin' from them to me — 

An' that vessel a-groanin', sinkin', there, 
Seemed a human thinof to be. 



140 UNCLE HIRAM'S STORY. 

Jest when I thought she was a-goin* 

Come an awful suit o' seas 
That ketched an' riz 'er right over the bar 

On the rocks quick as yer please. 

There she laid on the leadges broad-side 

Like a helpless, stranded whale, 
An' over her shattered, tremblin' side 

Fluttered the shroud like sail. 

She'd skercel}- struck 'fore I hove a "road" 
I'd picked up coiled on the sand,— 

'Twarnt more'n six fathom from where she was 
Right on ter solid land. 

An' the lads who'd ben driftin' an' dyin'. 

An' a prayin' all the time, 
Ketched it an' made it fast, while I 

Watched my chance an' run up thet line 

Han' overhand, an' cut their lashins clear, 
For the}" was too fur gone jer see, 

Dyin' from cold an' hunger, an' 
All covered with frozen sea. 



UNCLE HIRAM's STORY. 141 

I got them poor lads ashore at last, 
Carried 'em home, an put 'em to bed 

Tender as mother tucks my babies up 
When their little prayers is said. — 

Happy? Lan's-men don't know nothing about it ; 

Only him who takes life in his hand 
An' all weather an' water fearless braves, 

Knows how to enjoy the land. 

Thankful? O Doctor, j^ou'd feel it I knowed ! 

The thankfuUest mortals to see," 
— Uncle Hiram's blue eyes were brimming with 
tears — 

"Was them ship-wrecked men and me !" 




EIGHT BELLS!— ALL'S WELL? 

The sturd}* ship her ocean furrow cleaves^ 
And far at sea her sure way forges on. 
'Tis mid-night. From the lonel}' deck 
I hear the faithful pilot cry, 

*Eight bells ! All's well ! 

Eight bells, and all is well ! 

Thro' the mid-ocean waters fares she on 
Undaunted, night or day, tempest or calm, — 
At mid-night from the dreary deck 
Cometh the ringing, cheery call — 

Eight bells ! All's well ! 

Eight bells ! All's well ! All's well ! - 

From out the darkness leap the giant waves 
And buffet her with dangerous caress ; 
Yet from the clanking engine-room 
Beats true the ships great tireless heart — 

Eight bells ! All's well ! 

Eight bells ! All's well ! All's well ! 
142 



EIGHT BELLS ! ALL's WELL ! 143 

The night is drear, but from the sea-swept deck 
Cometh the sleepless watchman's ringing cry — 
And I, within my state room snug, 
Take heart, look up, and soft repeat — 

Eight bells! All's well! 

Eight bells, and all is well ! 

Trusting the one great Pilot of the deep 
To be for aye my tender, low- voiced guide, 
I look aloft to Him, and say — 
Tho' tossed upon life's ocean wide — 

O yes, all's well ! 

Within, all's well ! All's well ! 

Thus shall it be, O Lord, from this hence forth, 
So thou lean close, and hold my wav'ring helm, 
Trusting that one who never fails 
Will walk the seas with me, I sing : — 

All's well ! All's well ! 

By day or night, all's well ! 

I catch myself repeating o'er and o'er 
The glad, cheery refrain— "All's well! All's 
well !" 



144 



EIGHT BELLS ! — ALL's WELL. 



And thro' long watches, lone and still 
Hear it deep ringing in m}' soul — 

All's well ! All's well ! 

By night or daj^, all's well ! 

And from deep sleep I often start to hear — 
Blown thro* the echoing chambers of my heart- 
My Pilot's voice — the dear sweet call 
Ringing so soft and tender close above — 

Airs well ! All's well ! 

Forever more, all's well ! 




THE PLOVER'S NEST. 

Way out on the broad, brown marshes 

As the sun sank to its rest, 
Hid low among waving grasses 

I found a plover's nest. 

Undaunted at m}- rude coming 

She neither cried nor stirred, 
She silent and fearless sat on, 

The patient mother-bird. 

But looked with eye askance, and seemed 

To wonder what I would do ; 
Yet seeming to trust and know me as 

One tender, tried and true. 

Close down at the edge of the water 
Was this bonnie brown nest laid. 

On the sweet-breathed spongy islets, 
Of withered grasses made. 

145 



146 THE plover's nest. 

Only a few stray grasses, 

And a small dried twig or two, 

Formed the little simple paradise 
Of these wee lovers true. 

Yet never was greater treasure 

Than that of this wee brown nest ; 

And the home was big and brave enough 
To give its owners rest. 

And never happier lovers 

Mine eyes have ever seen 
Than these two mottled plovers — 

This King and his little Queen. 

And I hear the plaintive piping 
Of her fond mate down there, 

Sending his sweet message over 
The odorous twilight air. 

He knows that the patient sitter 

Between her slender legs 
Nurses and tends all carefully 

Their treasure of speckled eggs. 



THE tlover's nest. 147 

And the}^ call unto each other 

This father and mother bird, 
And tenderer, sweeter music 

Mine ears have never heard. 

I leave them there on the marshes 

Tn the sweet salt-meadows wet, 
In the peace and joy of their brave home, 

With a feeling of regret. 

And I seem to hear them calling 

In tones mellovv and soft. 
In the flush of morn, and glow of eve, 

O many a time and oft. 

And I know that sweetness dwelleth 

With the lowly and the small, 
And believe in the love that heedeth 

Even the sparrow's fall. 

And I find that the richest liver. 
And the gladdest heart that sings, 

Is the one that is true to its mission, 
Tho' it be but with little things. 



ON THE RIVER. 



EVENING TWILIGHT. 



Over Maxwell's meadows the sun sinks low 
And bathes the marsh in a tender glow ; 

And the dark dank flats, and salt grass lush 
In slumber wrapped, seem to whisper "Hush !" 

And I in my wherry upon the stream 
Am but part of the golden dream. 

And on and on in my little boat 
Along the winding river float 

That far away up the marshes flows 
In and out and ever smaller grows. 

Till finallj' so small it seems 

Like a silver thread that faintly gleams. 

And I in my wherry silent float 
On a dream-tide full to shores remote. 
148 



ON THE RIVER. 149 

Rare is the beauty of j^onder sands, 

And the tumult of myriad white wave-hands. 

And my glad heart listens and tends in peace 
A voiceful silence, a sweet release. 

O brimming river, O singing sea, 
My heart to-night is at one with ye ! 

For like the river, full and still, 
Her flood of joy doth brim and fill. 

And like the ocean's endless song 
Her happiness is rolling long ; 

And her sweetest hymns my heart doth cry 
When only the sea and God are nigh. 




SEA-SCENTS AND SOUNDS. 

This sea air wafted 'gainst my face 

Is but the kiss divine 
With which God tenderl}' uplifts 

This human heart of mine. 

Softly these salt sea-scents are blown 

Upon my burning face, 
Refreshing me, and following me 

In every weary place. 

Thro' loneh' spaces of my heart. 

And echoing faintly o'er, 
The chimes of ocean sweetl}^ borne 

Are ringing evermore. 

I hear them in the crowded mart. 

Beside the country way, 
I hear them softly pealing out 

Wherever I may stra}^ 
150 



SEA-SCENTS AND SOUNDS. 151 

But deepest on the ocean, and 

Upon the seething strand, 
The throng of voices rolls and blends, 

Like waves, far up the land. 

And best in lone rock-crannies, and 

Beside the ocean graj^, 
A-listening to this music sweet 

I love to muse and stray. 




OGUNQUIT RIVER. 

The fair and sunny river 
Windeth the marshes down 

Unto the solemn ocean 
Before the little town. 

It rises far to northward 
Amid the crisp salt grass, 

And after softest flowing 
Findeth the harbor harsh. 

After peaceful miles of motion 
Where still its waters are, 

It reaches wild commotion 
Beside the harbor-bar. 

O golden, glowing river, 
Where wear}' sea-fowl hide 

And feed amid thy grasses 
Upon the gentle tide, 
152 



OGUNQUIT RIVER. 153 

Happy thy home, O river, 

By sea and sounding shore 
Where all day long is singing 

The sea its story o'er. 

Westward, the golden meadows ; 

Eastward, the long-armed beach ; 
And just beyond, the sea, 

With its eternal speech ; 

Where the great surging ocean 

In weird and reedy runes 
Blows far its endless chanting 

Around yon yellow dunes. 

From thy heights the little village 
— A handful of homes and men — 

Stretches o'er fields of tillage 
To 3'onder misty fen. 

Brave are the hearts that love thee, 

O river winding down ; 
And home of peace and happiness 

Th}^ little sea-girt town. 

20 



154 OGUNQUIT RIVER. 

The lowl}' homes of fishermen 

Lie on thy bank, O stream, 
And o'er the clustered band of roofs 

The sea-gulls wheel and scream. 

And many an heart, O river, 

Afloat upon th}^ tide 
Fares with thy rushing current 

Forth to the ocean wide. 

But many an heart at morning 
When first da3''s fair lamps burn. 

Has gone out on that deep wide sea, 
And never to return. 

For few the hearts, O river. 

Come back from the cold graj^ sea ; 

But far faint voices ever 
The wind blows unto me. 

They come and go for a little. 

And are happ}^ and blithe and gay. 

But the clouds sweep over their sunshine. 
Breaks soon a sad dark day. 



OGUNQUIT RIVES. 155 

The sea gives them back to their loved ones 
For a few more happy to-da3's — 

Yet each da}^ a chill creeps over 
The heart of each wife that pra^'s ; 

A chill, and a nameless terror, 

That will not be gain-said ; 
And the dream in the night of an awful fate 

But 3'et a little delayed. 

And they start and scream at visions 

They dare not tell their men. 
Praying each night all vainly 

They may not come again. 

But the sea is a stern old master, 

And holds the lives in fee 
Of all who trespass upon it, 

O'er its threatening boundar}^ 

The}' ma}' come and go for a little. 

Life is but short at the best, 
However swift, however slow, 

Ever too soon comes its rest. 



156 OGUNQUIT RIVER. 

They may come and go for a little 
— The longest life soon is passed — 

They are merry and blithe for a little, 
But the sea holds them all at last. 

And I hear the low sad singing 
Of brave hearts lost at sea 

Borne up the little harbor 
On soft salt winds to me. 

It is ringing, ringing ever, 

Thro' the chambers of my heart 

In sweet tones low and lonely 
I know will ne'er depart. 

It is like the mingled music 

Of river and of sea, 
The sweetest, saddest music 

In all the world to me. 

O salt and sea-born river 
To thy home hurr34ng down. 

Sing thy glad song forever 
Unto the little town ; 



OGUNQUIT RIVER. 157 

And cherish it, and keep it, 

And feed it from thy breast 
Till it within the ocean, 

Like thee, shalt find its rest. 

O salt and sea-born river, 

O quiet fishing town, 
O stout hearts brave and manl}', 

O snug homes low and brown, 

Dwell on in peace forever 

Upon this shore I love. 
Where night and day the ocean lifts 

Its p?eans grand of love ! 

O hearts, O town, O river, 

O friends that true friends be. 
Be ours the rest eternal 

Beside the shoreless sea ! 



THE FISHING BOAT. 

T'vvas but a little fishing boat 
That to the sea went down, 

But well I know sad hearts are left 
Within the little town. 

Only a common fishing smack, 

Unpainted and unclean, 
Yet for it wait and watch, thro' tears, 

Four heavy hearts, I ween. 

Out to the sea in earh^ morn 

Under the stars she sailed, 
While down upon the old brown piers 

Four women's warm hearts failed. 

They knew not that the craft was plain. 
Nor thought that she was small ; 

To them, both beautiful and great, 
She was their all in all. 
158 



THE FISHING BOAT. 159 

And wistfully these fisher-wives 

From windows small gaze far, 
And wonder where upon the deep 

Their manly loved ones are. 

They heed not that the ship is small — 

The hearts that man her be 
Full great enough and good enough, 

And make her grand to see. 

They oft with little children go 

Out on the windy hill 
To see if, east or west, there be 

A white sail far and still. 

And when the dreaded darkness comes. 

All through the anxious night 
From out four lonely cottages 

There shines a small lamp bright. 

The mothers often stop to list, 

And oft the children cry — 
"Mama, why don't he come ashore? 

Can't papa hear us cry ?" 



160 THE FISHING BOAT. 

"0 he will in the morning come," 

Patting each curl}- head — 
"But now, clear children, he has gone 

To earn our dail}^ bread. 

Yes, he will in the morning come. 
When tlie long night is past ; 
To feed his linngr}' little ones 
Father will come at last." 

Thus speaks each lonel}' fisher-wife 
Within these small homes four, 

— The tender babes have dropped asleep — 
But yet its vigil sore 

Each fond, brave heart, will faithful keep, 

Until with morning's tide 
The little homely craft makes in 

Upon the harbor wide. 

The little boat is old and worn. 
Its sails are patched and brown. 

But stout hearts in it put to sea 
From out the fishinoj town. 



THE FISHING BOAT. 161 

The smack is neither tight nor trig, 

Its fare of fish is small, 
But great the hearts that wait for it. 

And great faith feeds them all. 

And well I know their very want 

Will bounteous plenty seem 
When glad within each cot again 

The father's face is seen. 

O Thou who in the days of old 

The loaves and fishes brake, 
Bless Thou this bread, these fishes few, 

For Thy dear children's sake ! 

Bless Thou this firm, unwavering faith, 

The lowly make Thou great. 
And with Thine untold riches bless 

All hearts that on Thee wait ! 



21 



MY INHERITANCE. 

A narrow strip of j-ellow sand, 
A boundless stretch of sea, 

A curving, boisterous, shingh' reach 
Murmuring constantly. 

Beyond the ragged, sand-swept dunes, 

An olive-tinted marsh. 
Where long the war}' bittern lurks 

And sounds his signals harsh. 

And yonder where the river flows 

Beside the tall, salt grass. 
The happy plovers call and pipe. 

And circle high and pass. 

And yellow stacks of gathered thatch 
Upon the moor-lands brown. 

Like dwellings in a village, skirt 
The river up and down. 

162 



MY INHERITANCE. 163 

A glorious, golden, island-beach, 

An ever singing shore, 
I rule in undisputed sway — 

Ah me, what could I more ! 

Only a narrow patch of land 

Beside an endless sea. 
And sand and waves and sun and shore — 

These are enough for me. 




"O SEA, O SHORE, O WAN-CHEEKED 
MOON." 

The cold gray sands are pale and wet 

Under the midnight moon, 
And soft and low the silver sea 

Singeth its olden rune. 

Softly it rocks, and rocking sings 

Its tender lullaby 
To all the gentle, trustful things 

That to its heart are nigh. 

O sea, O shore, O wan-cheeked moon, 
Tho' brim these eyes with tears 

At parting, take this loving heart. 
And thro' its sea-less years 

Attend and kindly heed its wa}^, 

And keep it brave and free, 
And strengthen it and bless it oft 

With holy thoughts of ye. 
164 



RETROSPECTION. 

Tho' fate unread its law decreed, 

And far away I be, 
I never, never can forget 

My home beside the sea. 

I hear the same sweet story told 

B}" restless waters o'er, 
I catch the gleam of distant sails, 

I see the glorious shore. 

I hear again the welcome tones 
Of lost friends calling me, ^ 

And ever to my sad heart sings 
The infinite deep sea. 

Its sights, its sounds, its sweet salt scents 

To me are sweetly blown, 
Forever sounds the dear old rote — 

Its moaning seems my own. 

165 



166 RETROSPECTION. 

I see the wondrous glow and glint 
Of white sails far and near ; 

The ceaseless, ever flowing brine 
I see, and feel, and hear. 

I feel the ocean's influence, 
I feel its sad sweet spell, — 

Would that this listening heart of mine 
Its whisperings could tell ! 

Then blow it hot, or blow it cold. 

Or blow it east or west. 
The ocean's benediction shall 

Upon my sea-heart rest. 

But when the wind is easterly 

I chiefl}' turn and think 
Mj^self at rest once more O sea, 

At home upon thy brink. 

And joyfull}' and yearningly 

I hold out both my hands, 
And seem to see and walk again 

The golden, singins: sands. 



RETROSPECTION . 167 

And thankfully and tenderl}' 

My good friends at the shore 
I meet again, and warmly greet, 

And name them o'er and o'er. 

And love to think how they and I, 
These firm, shore-friends of mine. 

Are tended, cherished, clothed and fed. 
By the all-loving brine. 

That b}' the very selfsame power, 

I, and my friends as well, 
Are kept and blessed, — blessed by that power 

That guides the ocean's swell. 

And that vve one and all shall be 

Kept.singing by the sea ; 
That hearts, made beautiful and strong, 

Shall beat, God, to Thee. 

O sweet and valued ocean-friends, 

O friends beside the shore, 
Come unto me, and stay with me. 

Abiding more and more ! 



168 RETROSPECTION. 

This loving heart leans o'er j^e all, 
This fond heart yearning waits, 

Till it shall hold its troop of friends 
Within its inner gates. 

M}' heart is great, to hold ye all : 
And warm, to love ye true ; 

And wide enough and deep enough 
To hold the ocean blue. 




CAPE NEDDICK HARBOR. 

A fair green slope on either hand ; 
Between, a reach of silver sand, 



That like a gleaming sickle bends 
Alono- the shore, and with it blends. 



Northward, a grove of walnut trees 
Defies the might of wind and seas. 

Southward, on Nubble-point, the light ; 
By da}' a sturdy shaft of wliite, 

By night a glowing crimson eye, 
By which the coast-wise vessels hie 

Unto the little harbor's peace, 
From wind and wave to find release. 

And far away, broad off at sea. 
Lone vigil keeping constantly, 

Rises the warning finger high 
Of lonely Boon against the sky, 

22 



169 



170 CAPE NEDDICK HARBOR. 

Faithful unto its solemn trust, 
Mute monitor of wave and gust. 

The waves across the harbor reach 
And sing upon the pebbly beach ; 

And in the roads a schooner white 
Foldeth her great broad wings from fliglit. 

And in the harbor deep and wide 
Her anchor drops in safety's tide. 

And echoing faintl}^ o'er and o'er 
The little waves reach up the shore, 

And softh' lap the old brown piers. 
The haunt of seamen spent in j^ears, 

Limping down to seaward gaze, 
And sadl}^ dream of other daj-s. 

Who, like disabled vessels, rest 
Amid those scenes they love the best ; 

Like 3"on black hulk upon the shore 
Whose days of usefulness are o'er. 



CAPE NEDDICK HARBOR. 171 

Dismantled, worm-eaten, alone. 
Unnoticed, save bj waves that moan 

Thro' its poor bones a ruthless surge, 
A mournful, hollow funeral-dirge. 

And landward now the little bight, 
Grown narrower, is lost to sight 

Under a low bridge that combines 
Both towns in one, yet each defines ; 

And thus unites, makes one again. 
What the river parted in twain. 

O'er Agamenticus a star 

Sendeth its "good night" from afar, 

And thro' the mellow sunset- sky 

The glowing hill-tops smile "good bye." 




SEA-BLOWN, 

O friends upon 3'on island lone. 

Far island of the sea, 
Once more I hear your hearty shouts, 

That warmly welcome me. 

Once more I hear the cheery calls, 
Hear sweet sea-songs ring out. 

And catch the far blown brin}' scents 
That flow 3'our isle about. 

Once more I see your faces brown, 
Once more j'our hands I clasp, 

And feel the warm "God bless you" in 
The hearty old-time grasp. 

Once more to feed the faithful lamp 

I climb with you the stair 
And from our giddj^ height look down 

Upon the picture fair — 

172 



SEA-BLOWN. 173 

Thro' golden glowing sunset-air 

Rudely as rare old wine 
I gaze out long and earnestlj^ 

O'er endless leagues of brine. 

With you again stand watch and watch 

All Ihro' the anxious night 
Until, relieving us from care, 

Breaks clear the day's sweet light. 

How many a darksome night we've spun 

Sea-tales of mysterj^ 
Made long dark hours seem short and bright 

With yarns about the sea 

Such as sailors delight to tell, 

Or one hears in a dream, 
So wild and weird, and quite unreal 

These ghostly sea-tales seem. 

O friends, true ocean-friends and sure, 

To 3'ou again I turn, 
And joyfully your island-home 

My eager eyes discern. 



1 74 SEA-BLOWN. 

To you to-day, tlio' far away 

My tide of friendship sets, 
A tide forever sure and strong, 

That stops not, nor forgets. 

With you again m}' heart would be 

Encircled by the sea. 
And lie at rest on ocean's breast, 

And grow strong ceaselessly. 

My heart would trim once more that lamp 

For sailors far at sea. 
And pour its saving oil of love 

For all that storm-tossed be. 

A little nearer yet this heart 
Would to the deep sea creep, 

And let the ocean winds and waves 
Thro' all my being sweep. 

Once more, O ocean-friends, once more 

I happy dwell with ye, 
With ye enjoy life's fullest prime 

In days far out at sea. 



AN ORDER FOR A SONG. 

You may sing me a song, 

But it must not be long, 
And I'll tell you what it must be — 

It must be of the ocean 

In endless commotion, 
It must be of my beautiful sea. 

Yes, sing me your song ; 

And let it be strong 
And as pure and as sweet as the brine, 

And let the great surges, 

On life's timid dirges 
Make ever an anthem divine. 

Then sing it to me, 

This song of the sea, 
That ever this sad heart of mine 

May leave its commotion 

For a life of devotion 
Beside the far-heaving brine. 

175 



176 AN ORDER FOR A SONG. 

Let me hear the sea's speech, 
Let me hear ttie loud beach. 

And, child-like, with ear upon shell, 
Hear the ocean's deep singing. 
Feel the sea within rinojins;— 

Forever its fall and its swell. 

Let the sea's rime and rote 

Soft o'er my heart float 
Wherever here I may roam ; 

While its tender caresses. 

And the low voice that blesses, 
Are so gentl}' calling me home. 




IN FROM SEA. 

What bring ye in, O little ship, 

In from the sea, to-night? 
The sea behind, the port ahead, 

Ended the restless flight? 

What bring 3'e in ashore then say? 

And what have ye to show, 
O little ship, full freighted, deep. 

Your rosy sails aglow? 

"O this is what I bring ashore, 

Tho' few the fish and small, 
Eight manly, eager, dauntless hearts — 

This is my cargo all. 

Look ! This is what I bring to port 

— Meagre all other fare — 
A dearth of wealth, a deal of health, 

And hearts that do and dare. 

23 177 



178 IN FROM SEA. 

See ! This is what I fetch to land. 

Into the hill-locked bay ; — 
Eight hearts ! A glorious freight for those 

Who watched them sail away. 

Great hearts, great love, a freight indeed 

To weigh a vessel deep, 
To fill the world with loveliness. 

And all life joyous keep ! 




THE PRICE O' FISH. 

*''Look at them trawls in that basket, 
An' look at them fish in that tub, 

The water is drained from m}^ flagon, 
M}^ basket is empty of grub. 

You fellers that's alwaj's ashore 
An' never sot foot on the sea 

Don't really know what hard work is— 
That's something you find out to sea. 

You don't often find it on soundin's, 
It grows lighter when brought to land, 

And there's little left, I can tell ye 
When ye git on ter the strand, • 

Yer can't know the time and the labor 
Them few little fishes hez cost ; 

Nor the long draggin' hours an' heavy, 
Nor the days an' the nights thus lost, 

179 



180 THE PRICE O' FISH. 

Yer can have them two for a quarter. 
An' that biggest cusk-fish to bake — 

Look down in that full kid, mister, 

Ain't them splendid haddick and hake I 

I'll take this haddick an' split him^ 
Do you want him to bile or to fry? 

Jest heft that cod on the thwarts, sir, 
How he made the w^ater % !" 

'''I know your time and trouble," I said, 
"So here, my friend, take this, 

I never dispute the weighing. 
Nor grudge the price of fish." 

'*Well, I declare, a dollar ! 

You understan' fishin', I see ; 
You're mighty kind, indeed, sir. 

To help my babes an' me — 

Ain't 3'er never ben on the water? 

Say, I'll bet yer've ben ter sea ! 
I rather guess ye're foolin' — 

Honest, I think yer be !" 



SUSPENSE. 

At daj'-break to the high sea-cliffs 
A wan-cheeked woman bends her way ; 

Black storm-clouds hurtle down the sky, 
The sullen sea lifts high its spray. 

She looks not at the roses wild 
That blush upon the cliff's bold height, 

She sees not e'en the fair}^ shells 
That vainly tr}* to lure her sight. 

But far to sea her dim eyes gaze, 
Fixed on yon airy film of sail ; 

That onty notes she, with a faith 
That will not falter, will not fail. 

Only one mote on the wide w^orld 
Intent her true fond eyes behold ; 

And but one object, that alone. 
Within her lovino; heart doth fold. 



181 



182 SUSPENSE. 

Her life is centered in that ship : 
Lo, on its deck her heart doth rest : 

Upheld b}^ love's deep cable, strong, 
The ship is anchored on her breast ; 

Unheeding nature's sights and sounds, 
The meadows and the lowing herds, 

Nor sun upon the glowing marsh. 
Nor leaping sea, nor call of birds ; 

No eye for beaut}^ ear for sound, 
No heart to dwell this world within, 

Onty the strength to stand and watch 
If it be his ship coming in ; 

Only to wait upon the shore 
And welcome with a feeble cry 

The stately ship proud sailing in 
With fleecy clouds of canvas high 

Straight on toward the harbor-buoy, 
And cry, "O is it, is it he? 

And 3'on ship his, and my good man 
A-coming home from sea?" 



SUSPENSE. 183 

"And can it be that he who walks 
Yon deck, my brown-cheeked husband is? 

And that broad-winged and stately craft, 
That graceful vessel, really his?" 

While stands she, mingling faith and fear, 
Hoping 'gainst hope, with straining eyes. 

And bloodless cheeks, and woman's tears, 
Behold ! Up to the mast-head flies 

The well known signal ! And the wife. 

Her dread suspense, her trial o'er. 
With beating heart descends the cliff 

To meet her husband on the shore. 




SAILING ORDERS. 

O white sail dropping far awa}^, 

Dipping a-down the sea, 
Leave thou the harbor far behind, 

The land leave far a-lee. 

And swiftl}^, swiftly seaward press, 

Glide down 3^on watery slope 
Unto those distant purple shores — 

The harbor-land of hope. 

Straight for those unseen islands bear 

Bright blossomed in the sun ; 
Nor strike thy sail, nor know a fear, 

Until the voyage be run. 

Then bravely to the harbor near 

With all thy canvas set ; 
Swerve not from chart, nor compass true, 

Tho' rough thy course, and wet. 

Run in full sail on the flood tide. 

Let thy sheet-anchor go ; 
Lo, faith hath led thee o'er the seas, 

And love shall hold thee so. 
184 



MY ARGOSY. 

Just at eve, when twilight purples 

Into sombre hues of night, 
And the wondrous sunset glories 

Pass in ecstacies of light ; 

Then, O then, to yonder headland 

I betake my lonely wa}'. 
And upon the ocean musing 

Watch the white ships far away. 

And my thoughts, like fair ships sailing, 

Silent steal away to sea, 
Sail out on that solemn ocean 

Whose deep moanings come to me. 

And I watching, yearning, pray they 
Be not wrecked upon life's strand ; 

Anxious, wistful, following, pray that 
Not in vain they come to land ; 

24 185 



186 MY ARGOSr. 

Hope and pvay that all together. 
Into some bright, glorious ba}^ 

Blessing, gladdening all the harbor. 
They may come in some sweet day ; 

Trust that it shall re-assemble, 
This brave argosy of mine. 

Laden with a priceless cargo 
Into brother-hearts to shine ; 

Trusting thus that its far sailing 
May not lost and fruitless be. 

That the voyage, not unavailing. 
May some mortal happier see ; 

That some brother I may gladden — 

If it be but only one, 
I shall know my trust}^ vessels 

Not in vain their voyage have run. 

Bravely speed, dear fleet of wishes ! 

Let no ship-wreck be thy fate — 
Longing now to bid thee welcome 

On the shore I watch and wait. 



MY ARGOSY. 187 

Let not vainly my fond wishes 
For all brothers wait and yearn ; 

Let these fair thoughts thronging round me 
Into richest blessings turn. 

■"Welcome home" is always waiting. 

When to port thou may'st draw near ; 
In some heart is always harbor ; 

Sail in bravely I Never fear J 

Welcome into port, O fair thoughts I 

Welcome, gentle argosy ! 
Float in white-winged from th' immortal 

Full upon the mortal sea. 




AN OCEAN EDEN. 

Out from the shore he bore his bride 

Unto their ocean-home, 
Where onlj^ ocean-voices speak, 

And waters toss and foam. 

Right gail}" danced the little boat 

That bright October day ; 
Brave were the hearts that said "Good bye," 

And sea-ward bore away. 

Broad off to sea they fearless put. 

Where, dim and far away, 
Low nestled on the ocean's breast, 

Their wave-washed island lay. 

The great watch-tower looming high 
Seemed calling them from land. 

And, nodding to the little boat. 
To reach a welcoming hand. 

188 



AN OCEAN EDEN. 189 

Bravely they sailed, — and brave they dwell ; 

Life finding each in each. 
Their full, deep joy, soft echoed by 

The sea's harmonious speech. 

"And thou hast left the world for me ! 

What joy is mine," he said, 
"Beloved, that thou coukVst leave kin, 

And come to me instead ! 

And dost thou dare, O dear, dear heart, 

Braving the treacherous sea. 
Upon this rock}', sea-beat isle. 

To bide alone with me? 

And dwelling on this lonely isle. 

Rebuke the moaning brine. 
And, radiant as a star, live on, 

In my poor heart to shine?" 

"O heart, dear heart," she soft replied, 

"Tiiou art my guiding star ! 
Shed thou thy comfort on my heart, 

Tho' roam we wide and far. 



190 AN OCEAN EDEN. 

One common wealth, this life of ours : 
Both owners : each a part — 

On sea or shore, m}- home henceforth 
Is only where thou art. 

There is no gloom}^ solitude 
Where two fond hearts abide ; 

To me no loneliness can come 
Wnen I am at thy side. 

For home, sweet home, is always with 
Those hearts that we love best ; 

What sweeter resting place have I 
Than on thine own dear breast? 

For be it rough, or lone, or wild, 
Yet always home is home ; 

And ever proves the dearest spot, 
However far we roam. 

Beloved, think not that the sea 

A thing of terror seems, 
To fill my brain with horror wild. 

And throngs of frightful dreams, 



AN OCEAN EDEN. 191 

Ah no ! To me it is the best, 

The nearest, truest friend ; 
Our friendship, like the sea itself, 

Is one that hath no end. 

I own the dear relationship, 

I claim the closest kin ; 
Ever tlie low, sweet voices chant 

M}' happy heart within. 

And now this heart is fonder }'et, 

And closer to the sea 
Since it has brought me to my best, 

Has given thee, love, to me. 

Happy our true fond hearts shall dwell 

Upon our ocean-isle. 
And mingle with the ocean old. 

And know its every smile ; 

With it our trusting hearts shall blend. 

Shall learn its every phase. 
And learn to love it more and more 

Thro' all our peaceful days ; 



192 AN OCEAN EDEN. 

And come to know that on its power 

Our ver}' lives depend ; 
That winnowed, washed sweet bj' the sea, 

Our blessings all descend ; 

That, when expanded broad and deep, 
Our lives have nobler grown, 

Our jo3^s deep as the sea shall be, 
Our sorrows as its foam." 



And so upon the island dwell 

These iwo brave hearts and fond ; 

No gloomy hours have they to bid 
Their happy lives despond. 

But drinking in the ocean's peace 
That flows about their isle, 

They only know God's wondrous love. 
And bask within His smile. 

They only see His love and light. 

And far into the blue, 
Be3"ond the rolling clouds they look 

These loving hearts and true. 



AN OCEAN EDEN. 193 

No fear is theirs, no sad complaint 

Against a too hard fate ; 
But sweet and uncomplaining still 

They, cheery, patient, wait. 

And growing sweet and sweeter yet 

They live on day by day 
Rejoicing in each blessing small 

That seaward blows their way. 

The tall gray watch-tower silent b'fts 

Its statel}^ head all da}' ; 
By night its beacon shines afar 

With comfort in its ray. 

And ever sweetl}- onward still, 

Thro' day and night as well, 
The two brave hearts beat faithful on, 

And love's sweet stor}- tell. 

Unshaken as their sea-swept rock. 

And cheery as its light, 
Their faith grows stronger every day, 

And fairer and more bright, 

25 



194: 



AN OCEAN EDEN. 



To make the great world better yet. 
To keep their snug home sweet. 

The sea and shore to safer make. 
And life itself, complete. 




HOME'S ANCHORAGE. 

**Tho' all the boats put out to sea, 
This dark and threatening night, 

Yes dear, I'll stay ashore," he said, 
*'And wait for morning's light." 

And so, with Annie in the door 
He watched the boats go down 

The river seaward with the tide 
From out the fishing town. 

But wistfully he followed them, 

And with a longing eye. 
As on they went over the bar 

Where waves were leaping high. 

He watched them raise the close-reefed sail, 

And careful trim the sheet. 
And with one lingering gaze look back 

Upon home's hill-side sweet. 

195 



196 HOME*S ANCHORAGE. 

Impatientl}' his great heart throbbed, 
He heaved a long drawn sigh, — 

For great hearts have no room for fear. 
Nor dream of danger nigh. 

And eagerly toward the sea. 
He turned his manly head, 

For well he knew their board was bare. 
Knew well the need of bread. 

But Annie saw his restless glance. 
And reading swift his thought, 

Upon his rugged eagerness 

Her sweet-lipped influence wrought. 

So woman's weakness curbs and holds 
Man's might in easy swa}'. 

For love has never known defeat. 
But leads in its own way 

All those who own allegiance to 
Its banners, victory-crowned, 

And leads its conquering armies swift 
This fair, broad world, around, — 



home's anchorage. 197 

She laid her hand in his great palms, 

Her fair head on his breast ; — 
"Husband, stay in ashore with me. 

Stay in to-night, and rest. 

There's plenty in our little store 

To night, for tliee and me. 
Wait ! If the morrow dawneth fair, 

Then earl}^ put to sea. 

Meanwhile, of this glad hour make sure, 

'Tis all we reall}" own — 
To-morrow has not reached us yet, 

And yesterday has flown. 

Let us abide in peace to-night, 

Tending our wee babes two, 
And watch to see the boats come in 

When day breaks clear and blue. 

We'll wait to see if they come back. 

The little boats that dare. 
And all their crews safely return. 

And large or small their fare." 



198 home's anchorage. 

But here the brave young sailor turned 

And kissed his little wife — 
''Yes, darling, I will sta}- with thee. 

For short and sweet is life !" 

But tho' upon the morrow rose 

The sun bright o'er the bay, 
Onl}' three little boats returned 

Of six that sailed away. 

For in the night the freshening breeze 

Into a tempest grew, 
Alas for little boats that sailed ! 

Alas for boats and crew ! 

For three brave fishing-boats went down, 
And six hearts met their doom, 

And unseen, unknown, drift about 
Within the sea's vast tomb. 

When morning broke, wild on the air, 
Swifter than blind snow-squall, 

From lip to lip the fearful tale 
Rushed thro' the village small. 



home's anchorage. 199 

When flew the swift-winged, awful news 

Into this safe, snug home, 
At first the silence was unbroke. 

Save by the ocean's moan. 

Speechless, they only gazed and looked 

Unutterable thought. 
Aghast with horror at the woe 

One awful night had wrought. 

And then he turned, and clasped her close, 

"0 Annie, my sweet wife, 
Thou art ray guardian-angel ! God 

Sent thee to save my life. 

My sweet beloved, thou hast saved 

This wayward life of mine ; 
O keep it now, and tend it close ! 

Forever it is thine !" 

Home is man's safest anchorage, 

His harbor sure indeed, 
When fleet-winged peril sweepeth nigh, 

And urgent is his need. 



200 



home's anchorage. 



His true wife is the port-warder, 

And love the anchor deep 
To shield hira from approaching storm, 

And safe from danger keep. 




DROWNED ON THE BAR. 

'^Nine years ago," she sadly said, 
— "They long and weary are — 

My good man — O sir, pit}^ me ! 
Was drowned on 'Gunkit bar. 

While rowing in ashore one day, 

In from the deep afar, 
His loaded boat capsized, and he 

Was drowned right on the bar. 

The tide ebbed swift, the sea ran high, 
The boat with fish was full, 

And he against a strong head-wind 
Pulled hard as he could pull. 

With labor spent, with hunger faint, 
Himself he could not save : 

No boat was nigh, no quick strong hands 
To pull him from his grave. 
26 201 



202 DROWNED ON THE BAR. 

Scarce had his deep-set dory struck 
Upon the "round-rock's" crown, 

Than, stiff in oil-skins and big boots, 
Like ballast he went down. 

The boat, the fish, the trawls, the gear, 
Came in on the flood-tide — 

O wh}^ were these things given up. 
And he kept from m}' side ! 

He was a real good man, and kind, 

Too good his life to lose — 
But there ! The Lord so ordered it — 

And who their lot can choose? 

He was real smart and quick to see, 

And quietish and kind ; 
He wouldn't scold — some will, j^ou know- 

If my work got behind. 

A kind husband, and father too. 

As ever mortal see, 
Always so handy with the chores. 

Good to the babes and me. 



DROWNED ON THE BAR. 203 

O hearts are light that sail to-dsLj 

Over these waters blue ; — 
The songs I hear in these waves, I hope 

"Will never come to you. 

And merrj^ hearts with many a shout 

Sail out to sea afar ; 
And harmless now the little waves 

Ripple along the bar ; 

But T can never view the place 

Without a hot, swift tear, 
Without a shudder and a pang, 

A nameless, clutching fear. 

This dreary place, this moaning bar. 

Can never be to me 
Aught but the burial-place of one 

Whose requiem chants the sea. 

O cruel waves to rush and roar 

Like wolves in hungry pack ! 
To seize in foaming fangs my own. 

Never to give him back ! 



204 DROWNED OK THE BAR. 

O crueU heartless, wicked sea ! 

Monster deep-mouthed and wide I 
To swallow that I held most dear, 

And in thy darkness hide ! 

Of all the solemn places that 
Upon this sad world are. 

The loneliest, awfullest, bitterest, is 
The cruel ' 'Gunkit-bar r " 




DAWN. 

In from the sea the gra}- mists silent steal ; 
The bars of night roll back and swift reveal 

Th' approaching splendor, rare and wondrous 

bright, 
The pure, fresh glory of the day's sweet light ; 

Out of the sea upon its glorious way 

Sweeps the resplendent, new-born, summer day. 

The great cliff-ledges fret the murmuring waves 
That lap, and play about, the shingly caves. 

Out on the bay, tall thro' the misty air. 
An anchored vessel looms a spectre fair. 

Close at my feet the tide comes sweeping in 
With full broad-breasted stroke and rushing din ; 

And lo, to me uprising from my dreams 
The waking thought of the new day bright 
gleams ; 

And I, with heart uplifted, reverent fold 
Within my breast the sweet gifts on me rolled ; 

With joy and thankfulness accept the thought 
That to my soul the new fair day hath brought. 

205 



MARY. 

Poor Mary runs alone each night 

To look far o'er the sea, 
And learn if from her missing ship, 

And man, there tidings be. 

Poor Mary, weeping, lingers late 

Upon the high brown pier. 
Hoping some tidings of the staunch 

Schooner ''Sea-King" to hear, 

The stiffest vessel on the cape, 

The swiftest of the fleet. 
But ah ! In vain she hopes and prays, 

And waits the message sweet. 

The sailor working on the wharves 

Her piteous moaning hears. 
And down each swarthy sea-tanned cheek 

Trickle the great salt tears. 
206 



MARY. 207 

The noble-minded fishermen 

Pass with averted face ; 
The}' can not bear to see such woe, 

They shun the fated place. 

Their great warm hearts with man}' a pang 

Her sorrow feel full well, 
But dare not face her standing there. 

With no good news to tell. 

O Mar}', Mary, long in vain 

For husband and for son 
Will wait upon the lonely piers — 

Wait till her life is done. 

She hails each rugged fisherman. 
And cries, "Pray have you seen 

The schooner 'Sea-King' anywhere — 
Black hull, with rail of green ? 

And have you seen my husband fond ? 

My curly headed boy? 
Pray have you met them on the deep, 

And heard them shout 'Ahoy?' " 



208 MARY. 

But the pit3'ing fishers answer "No!" 

Unto her plaintive cry ; 
And choking, touched by woman's tears, 

Go shuffling quickly by. 

O Mar3% Mary, turn thee now, 
Thy loved ones are not here ; 

They nevermore shall fold thee close 
Upon the brown old pier. 

Wait patiently ! — 'Twill not be long — 

Thy dear ones lost at sea 
Upon a fairer shore than this 

Are waiting now for thee ! 

For tho' thou callest to the deep, 

And watch in vain the sea. 
Know that thy loved ones, not in vain, 

Wait, Mar}', now for thee. 

Thy watch is vain, but their's is sure ! 

Unto their new sweet life 
Thy loved wait now to welcome thee, 

O broken-hearted wife ! 



THE LOSS OF "TFIE BELLE OF THE 
BAY." 

Have you heard how 'The Belle of the Bay" 

went down, 
The smartest boat out of Gloucester town? 

The swiftest scliooner and neatest rig, 
From top-mast to keelson neat and trig? 

Standing in from the Banks, her fishing done, 
Bowling along on her homeward run ? 

The "Citj^ of Paris" running in, 

We sighted one morning, huge, deep, and thin. 

Bound for New York, and a line of black 
Far down the sky, marked her smok}" track. 

Silent and smooth and swift she ran 
On her course like a great Leviathan ; 

Straight down for us she wickedly bore, 
And never a point nor half point wore. 
27 209 



210 THE LOSS OF "THE BELLE OF THE BAY." 

And never a signal the sky cliil fleck, 
And never a shout from bridge or deck ; 

We heard not even a warning shout, 
Nor saw in his place the keen look-out. 

Her Titan prow cut the fl3'ing spray, 
And we saw the rainbow around it pla}' ; 

Then on she came with an awful rush — 
Just a painful stillness, a moment's hush, 

Then a moment's gleam, and a swift, proud dash, 
And then the terrible, fatal crash, 

— The solemn trump of the angel of death, 
That took from each man his quickened breath ; — 

With a mournful wail like a funeral note 
Our beautiful, helpless vessel smote, 

And clove us through with a seam so wide. 
Like a knife through cheese, on the starboard 
side ; 

Clove us thro' and thro', from waist to waist. 
While the sea rushed in with fearful haste. 



THE LOSS OF ''THE BELLE OF THE BAY." 211 

And there, for a moment in two parts lay 
The wreck of the once staunch "Belle of the 
Bay." 

Then down, down, down, with a gidd}^ swirl 
Settled the wreck of our beautiful girl ; 

Down, down, down, to the depths remote, 
Hull, cargo and spars, sank the fated boat ; 

And the helpless crew, when the deed was done, 
Had scarce the time upon deck to run, 

And leap over the rail into the sea, — 
Or stay on board and corpses be, 

Those that lived : — but some were dead ! 
With the fatal crash their lives had sped. 

Yes, some were dead, and crushed below, 
Engulfed in the great sea's over flow ; 

Crushed and bleeding, all sorrow passed. 
Ten mangled corpses in their bunks held fast, 

Down with the gurgling vessel went. 
All to their doom by one stroke sent, — 



212 THE LOSS OF "THE BELLE OF THE BAY." 

And there the}' floated on boom and box, 
Those ship-wrecked men, in sorry flocks ; 

Till a good sister vessel came along 

And saved what was left of the saddened throng. 

But the cruel steamer ! — O where was she? 
Little she cared that upon the sea 

She had sunk a vessel, and wrecked a crew 
Of men that were just as brave and true 

As any she bore in her proud saloon ; 
Little she cared that in broad high noon 

She had sunk a vessel and taken lives. 
Made children orphans, and widowed wives, 

And ruined the ho[)es of many a man 

Who was happy and gay when his voyage began ! 

O cruel steamer, now take on 3'ou 

The curse of a lieart-broke ruined crew ! 

Take them, — enougn to sink 3'ou down — 
The curses of sorrowing Gloucester town ! 

May the dying shrieks of those you drowned 
Follow you close all the world around. 



THE LOSS OF "THE BELLE OF THE BAY." 213 

And haunt you forever, night and day, 
On dangerous seas or in land-locked bay ; 

For the pride of all of Gloucester town 

Was the vessel that you to her doom sent down ! 

This is the tale, and this was the way 
That the vessel was lost, — "The Belle of the 
Bay." 

'Tis true as the Gospel ! — For I was one 
Of the crew on the poor ship's fated run. 




STEP BY STEP. 

Each day a little on I breast 

Toward some purer, nobler star ; 

And looking backward, wonder at 
My past, behind me stretched afar ; 

With deep regret look back upon 
The graves of mj^ dead 3'esterdays, 

And pray that sweeter thought and deed 
May glorify m}' future wa3's ; 

Disheartened that the past has not 

A something better, grander, brought ; 

Remorseful that in days gone by 
I have not more of beaut}^ wrought. 

Yet always filling the to-days 

With use and cheer and fair sunshine, 
Hoping some goodness to achieve, 

Something akin to deeds divine : 

214 



STEP BY STEP. 215 

To rise afresh each splendid morn 

Unto the new daj-'s noble quest, 
And far below to leave those peaks 

Where yesterdaj^s m}- feet have pressed. 

Thus, step by step, o*er Alpine heights 
Each day to careful mount and rise 

A little farther from the earth, 
A little nearer to the skies. 

And each to-morrow shall me find 
Where weary feet have patient trod, 

A littler nobler, grander, grown, 
A little nearer to my God. 




LITTLE SAILOR-DICK. 

LOST AT SEA SEPT. 10, 1879. 

My heart is yearning, calling low, 
Is opened wide for thee 

Sailor Dick, till thou at last 
Sail bravely in from sea. 

1 wonder if thou can'st not rise 
Above thy mighty grave, 

And sail back to th}- own again, 
Death's cold dark shores to brave? 

Dear Dick, I wonder if thou can'st 

Not look back o'er the sea, 
Across from th}' fair port, and read 

This heart that bleeds for thee ? 

And, leaving thy safe anchorage, 

Sail in all unaware 
To earth, and, unseen, speechless, breathe 

A silent, holy prayer, 

216 



LITTLE SAILOR-DICK. 217 



A benediction, full upon 
This heart that fondl}" waits 

To see thy ship come sailing out 
From Heaven's harbor-gates? 

I wonder if thou wilt not come 
One blessed da}' at last 

And take me gently by the hand, 
And hold me safe and fast ; 

And guide me tender all the way 

Till into port I sail, 
Upon some blessed, blessed day. 

And hear the welcome hail ? 

I wonder if thou wilt not come 
And sturdy man my wheel 

Until the harbor-lights of Heaven 
The safe course shall reveal. 

As I sail on to port, dear heart, 
Out of the sea of night, 

Into the glorious port of day — 
From darkness, unto light ? 

28 



218 LITTLE SAILOR-DICK. 

O brother heart ! O Dick, dear Dick, 
I know not where thou art ; 

But this I know, O little Dick, 
We are not far apart. 

For are we not God's children both ? 

Both equally His own ? 
And thou in Heaven, and I on earth, 

His love around us thrown ? 

Both in His glorious kingdom dwell, 

Alike feed on His grace ; 
Yet thou a little nearer, in 

The radiance of His face. 

And tho' to-day I see thee not, 
To-morrow I shall know, — 

And where thou art, dear brother heart, 
I do not fear to go. 

little Dick, O little Dick, 
Lost in tne tropic seas, 

1 feel thee closely, closely drawm, 

In moments such as these ! 



LITTLE SAILOR-DICK. 219 

I feel that thou can'st read this pang, 

This fadeless, keen regret, 
These eyes, that all bedimmed with tears, 

Full toward thy face are set ; 

That thou can'st feel this tender heart 

That muffled beats for thee. 
Dear little ship-mate, sailor-Dick, 

Lost in the tropic sea. 

Then welcome, welcome in, dear heart ! 

Ship-mate, give me thine hand ! 
Fearless T ship with thee, and sail 

Out to the better land. 




BALD HEAD CLIFF. 

An ancient, wrinkled, time-scarred crag 
Upon the wild shore stands, 

Scowling, and boding ill to all, 
Clenching its crooked hands. 

A mighty, storm- worn parapet 

Frowns on the fretful sea. 
An hundred towers barnacled 

Gaze grim and stern to see. 

An hundred bastions of flint 
Their horny breasts uprear, 

An hundred stony pinnacles 
Are glistening far and near. 

A sturdy wave-washed citadel 

Of granite, trap, and flint, 
A fort invincible, the sea 

Storms vainly without stint. 
220 



BALD HEAD CLIFF. 221 

But O, the wonderful sea-wall, 

Cheerless, and sad, and dark. 
With pain writ on its seamed face, 

And only sorrow's mark. 

And yet, for all the deep cut woe 

Piercing its riven side. 
Majesty bonded unto fate. 

Where beauty can not hide. 

For stern and awful its lone trust, 

Eternal o'er the sea, 
Thro' summer's sun and winter's gust, 

Its sentinel to be. 

The ebon cliffs that tower and lean 

Athwart the hollow sky. 
Bespeak a sad and weary trust 

From which they cannot fly. 

Grim, jealous guardians look down 

Upon the pensive sea ; 
The beetling heights seem only made 

To frown forebodingly. 



222 BALD HEAD CLIFF. 

The tall dun cliffs, the boulders gray, 
Seemingly stand and keep 

Guard o'er the sea, and proudly hold 
The gate-way of the deep. 

They seem to keep, and hold in check 
Within their cumbrous gates 

The helpless sea, that patiently 
Beneath their thresh-hold waits. 

In vain the ocean lifts its spray 

With many a soft caress 
Far up their rugged sides, and sings 

Its song of bitterness ; 

In vain the servile sea rolls in, 
And fawning licks their feet ; 

These hoary giants tremble not, 
But hold in sway complete, 

In iron grip, the waves that wail 

And fall back hopelessly 
Upon the shingle, spent and gone. 

And cry : — "Roll back, O sea ! 



BALD HEAD CLIFF. 223 

Maturer, nobler far than thou, 

Born of an older brood, 
Ere thou wert made, O sea, upon 

This very shore we stood. 

Thou art the child, and we the sire, 

'Tis thou that must obey ; 
Eternal blood flows thro' our veins, 

We're older than the da3\" 




A DAUGHTER OF THE BRINE. 

Upon the cliff's bald head she stands, 

Off to the dim skj'-line 
Searching the sea with wistful gaze, 

A daughter of the brine. 

Sweet is the face upturned to meet 

The singing, sapphire sea ; 
Fair are the thoughts that rise to greet 

The ocean's majest}^ 

Her sunny locks, wind-blown, stand out 

A tangled skein of gold, 
Flaunting their sunshine on the air 

Athwart the ledges bold. 

O child of ocean, sunny-faced, 
Thou daughter of the brine, 

May full and rich thy days depart. 
And peaceful years be thine ! 

224 



A DAUGHTER OF THE BRINE. 225 

May ocean's blessing follow close 

Unto this brief life's end ; 
And to thee, roaming far or near, 

Its benediction lend. 

Year after year turn thee to find 

Th}'- rest upon this spot ; 
Unto this lonely sea-beat cliff 

Turn, like the wife of "Lot." 

Nor fear, like her, in turning back 

To make a fatal halt, 
And turning seaward, find thyself. 

Become a bag of salt. 

Fear not, like Lot's weak wife, to meet 

A sad and briny fate ; 
Always the sea's deep blessings for 

Its loving children wait. 

Fear not ! But let the sea sweep in 

Upon that heart of thine, 
And keep it singing free and sweet, 

O daughter of the brine ! 

29 



DAISY AND DANIE. 

He is her little knight-errant, 

And she is his little queen, 
And they dwell close down by the salt sea- 
shore ; 

Never a happier pair was seen ; 

She is a little lad}'. 

And he is a little man. 
And you need not look for a comelier pair, 

For find them you never can. 

He is a master boat builder, 

Is Danie on the shore ; 
And in his shop he works, and turns 

Out dories by the score. 

And Daisy, his little house-keeper. 
Keeps their home neat as a mouse ; 

When the pies are baked, and the mending done, 
She neatl}' sweeps the house. 
226 



DAISY AND DANIE. 227 

Yes, Danie's a bonnie brave boatman, 

With boats to sell or hire ; 
And pretty pink Daisy in their snug home. 

Is his very heart's desire. 

And they live so happy together, 

Thus may they always dwell ! 
If I were old as Methuselah 

I could not their child-joys tell. 

But as long as the sun keeps rising 

Every morn out of the sea, 
This vision of Daisy and Danie will 

Come sweetly home to me. 




JEROME'S FIRST VOYAGE. 

Jerome was a sailor's son, and lived 
In a snug 3'ellow house on the shore, 

With eaves so low he could almost reach. 
And a faded broad red door. 

And a beautiful, grass}' slope ran down 
From his house right into the sea. 

And the garden was ga}^ with ocean-flowers. 
And early and late, there would be 

The sounding and singing of ocean's glad 
song,— 
From the sea its rime and its rote. 
That Jerome always heard, or tucked snug in 
bed, 
Or out on the bay in his boat. 

Jerome took his father's boat one day, 

— He was only seven j-ears old — 
Stole the vessel's yawl-boat for a cruise, 

Tho' father and mother would scold. 

228 



Jerome's first voyage. 229 

When father had gone down to the store, 

And mother was bus}^ with pies, 
He stole the oars and ran to the wharf, 

A pirate proud, to his prize. 

He pushed off the boat with a ro^^al will. 

For Jerome was a sailor free ; 
Like a duck he took to the water, for 

His father followed the sea. 

So he pushed her off right manfulh^ 

And with a right good will — 
But alas ! His strength was very small 

Tho' great his pluck and skill. 

And the lumbering oars proved too heav}' far 

For his boyish arms to lift, 
And the clumsy old yawl he could not guide. 

Began with him to drift. 

And down the harbor toward the sea 

She drifted so swift and straight, 
As she caught the tide where Whale's Back Ledge 

Shows its long back brown and great. 



230 Jerome's first voyage. 

Now Jerome was not frightened much, not he, 

Tlio' just a wee bit scared, 
For his father was master of a ship. 

And o'er many seas had fared. 

And the boj^ from father to the son 

By inheritance had gained 
The same old longing and love for the sea. 

That had waxed instead of waned. 

For a real web-footed tar was he, 

And a hearty old "fin-back", 
Always happiest when his good ship 

Stood off on her outward tack. 

For lack of a rudder the brave young lad 

Steered on with a heavy oar, 
And kept the old boat out in mid-stream. 

That he could not guide ashore. 

Down on the swift ebb-tide she flowed, 

With the rocks on every hand ; 
Down the harbor and out to sea, 

For he could not fetch the land. 



Jerome's first voyage. 231 

But young Cap'n Jerome had the true stuff in 

His manly sailor-breast, 
And he did not halloo and scream all the way, 

With hands on his heart close pressed ; 

But sat at the stern with the oar in his hand, 
Like a weather-stained tar at the wheel. 

While the old boat tossed and veered about 
On the eddies that swirl and reel. 

At the harbor's mouth now he saw the "Shoals" 

In the hot sun nod and blink ; 
And he said : ''I shall sleep out there to-night 

If this clumsy old craft don't sink." 

W^hen the boat drifted out from the harbor wide. 
With Whale's Back light on the lee. 

The keeper sighted with his keen glance. 
The old yawl drifting to sea. 

And hastening down from his look-out tower 

He put off after it. 
And reached, at the end of a weary hour. 

The youngster still full of grit. 



232 Jerome's first voyage. 

And he rescued the boy and brought him in 

To the harbor safe once more. 
To the father and mother in sad suspense 

Searching along the shore. 

And this was little Jerome's first vo3'age 
Out on the broad, broad main ; 

But not his last —for he eagerly waits 
The day he shall go again. 




30 



A TENT UPON THE SHORE. 

Give me a little tent in which 

To dwell beside the sea, 
Just long enough and broad enough 

To hold my friends and me. 

A snow}^ tent, just big enough 

To hold the ones I love ; 
Their hearts and mine to fold and keep 

Encamped on shores of love. 

Grant me m}- little tent to pitch 

Upon the ocean's strand, 
And with tried friends in peace to rest, 

And bold them heart and hand. 

And just a narrow patch of land 

Upon the brown sea-shore, 
And just a handful of true friends — 

A heartful, and no more. 

233 



234 A TENT UPON THE SHORE. 

Give me my little tent in which 
To dwell happy with friends 

That, always to mj^ need and good, 
The dear Lord kindly sends. 

Grant unto me, and unto them 
Whom in m}' heart I hold, 

To camp forever in the peace 
Of God's celestial fold. 

And grant ns in our tents of peace 

In sweetness to abide, 
And feast our thirst}' hearts and souls 

Upon 3'on ocean wide 

That speaks to us tented close down 

Beside its waters blue, 
Of one whose love doth never cease, 

But keeps us sweet and true. 

Give me m}' snowy gleaming tent 
With doors wide open thrown. 

In which to welcome all those friends 
I thankful call my own. 



A TENT UPON THE SHORE. 235 

In which to welcome all great hearts, 
My friends, true, brave, and sweet, 

Whom, deep within my heart I fold. 
Whose names I soft repeat. 

Grant us together glad to live 

Upon Life's coast-cliffs bare, 
Until again our tents we pitch, 

Upon a shore more fair. 




CYNTHY. 

A bronzed and withered thin old liag 
With features sharp as a sea-worn crag, 

A brown old fish-wife, shrivelled and dr}^ 
With wizened chops and cheek-bones high, 

Is poor old Cj'nthy, standing there 
W^hile the wind blows straight her snake-like 
hair, 

The poor old wreck of many a blast, 
With her life at ebb, and flowing fast ; 

For many a gale and tempest bold 
Has been weathered by that visage old ; 

And that haggard, leather-like, old face 
Seems the last lorn creature of its race. 

Left just above the billow's reach 
To die upon some lonely beach, 
236 



CYNTHY. 237 

The wailing wreck of a blasted life, 
The ghastl}^ ghost of a rained wife. 

Like last slow throbs of a broken heart, 
Her cheerless, fast closing da^'s depart. 

Like some sad old wreck upon the shore 
Whose days of action are no more 

Is C3'nthy, the last of an once good house, 
Without a home, and poor as a mouse ; 

Left, the last of an honest name, 
To die in poverty and shame ; 

The wreck of a life once proud and gay 
As a queen's, when on her wedding da}' 

Long, long ago, the bells rang out. 
And the village-scold, and the lazy lout, 

All flocked to see the beautiful bride 

Come forth from the church, her husband's pride. 

The children all cry out : — "She's a witch !" 
But wizard or fish-wife, no matter which ; 



238 CYNTHY. 

It is all the same, for they fear her well, 
The bent old vixen's evil spell. 

Whenever she passed from her low brown door 
They followed on after by the score, 

Clinging to skirt and hand in hand, 
A cautious, circumspect young band, 

With bated breath, and with furtive glance, 
And a sudden terror, if by chance 

The poor old soul ever turned about 
To see why the stealthy rabble and rout, 

That was half in sport, and half in fear, 
Should wish to follow her so near. 

But the old folk all about the town 
Onl}^ look up, and checking a frown 

As she passes, cry : — "Let her go ! 
Peace to sorrow ! Peace to woe ! 

Pardon and pity ! And let her be 
An endless lesson to such as we !" 



CYNTHY. 



239 



For the}- know the life, and the story too, 
Of this blear-eyed witch of coppery hue. 

And this was the tale that in whispers light, 
Passed from mouth to month, on many a night : — 

'Twas many long, long years ago, 
— So the stories of the gossips go — 

When fair and smooth was that wrinkled brow, 
And black the hair that is snow-white now, 

That Cynthy bloomed in her maidenly pride, 
The talk of all the country-side ; 

And far and wide was her beauty known. 
Discussed in kitchen, on wall of stone ; 

And many a lad to her wended his way 
To be sent home sadder and wiser one day. 

Dainty, beautiful, graceful and sweet, 
From her dimpled cneeks to the soles of her 
feet ; 

She "carried the air" in the village choir, 

And her voice reached up to Heaven, and higher ; 



240 CYNTHY. 

Singing in church, so pink and fair, 

The despair of all men who saw her there ; 

For a single glance of those cold graj^ eyes 
Made them more unhappj-, if not less wise. 

But at last came a lover one morn in May 
Who soon had things all in his own way, 

A sailor bold her cold heart to woo, 

With an empt}' purse, and empty heart too. 

He came along her fair hand to win, 
But won her heart ere he could begin : 

He asked for a part, but gained the whole, 
She was all his, body, heart, and soul ; 

For he was a gallant sailor boy. 
And the sea had alwa3"s been her joy ; 

She had often longed to sail away 
In some noble vessel from the ba3^ ; 

And now she longed for the time when she 
This gallant sailor's bride might be. 



CYNTHY. 241 

And with him sail on, hand in hand, 
O'er many a sea, to man}^ a land. 

At last came the merr}^ wedding-day 
When happy Cynthy wended her way 

To the little church on the green hill-side 
That looked out over the ocean wide, 

Blushing and blooming, light of heart. 
With careless grace and studied art, 

Tripping on, with a smile and a smirk 
For all, on her way to the wee gray kirk. 

And the curious, staring villagers saw 
A peerless beauty without a flaw ; 

With dazzled eyes and mouths agape 
A perfect color and perfect shape, 

When they gazed at Cynth}^ without a blink 
In her muslin gown of figured pink. 

Standing there at the church-yard gate 
Read}^ to enter and meet her fate ; 

31 



'2i2 CYNTHY. 

Within the low porch smiling fair 
Upon the great throng gathered there, 

That filled the church, inside and out. 
And strolled the grass}^ yard about ; 

Waiting in groups of twos and threes, 
— But mostl}' twos — out under the trees ; 

Wondering when their waiting would be done, 
The despairing two made a happy one ; 

Wondering and planning and scrawling a date 
On some moss-grown, slanting stone of slate. 

In the little graveyard where lay the dead. 
Whose jo3's were over, whose loves were fled ; 

Smiling, and fixing that longed for day 

When the}" too, should joj^ous come in that way, 

And be just as happy as Cynthy to see — 
But ah ! Its one to seem, and another to be ! 

It is one to do, and another to dream ; 
And its harder to be, than it is to seem. 



CYNTHY. 243 

And its one to wed, and another to woo ; 
And one is false while another is trne ; 

It is one to promise, and another to keep ; 
And its easier far to laugh than to weep. 

For one must ask, and his love confess ; 
And the other must blush, and murmur yes. 

It is one thing to wed, and another to woo ; 
It takes one to be false, and two to be true. 

And Cynth}' waited that day in vain. 
Waited there in grief and in pain ; 

Waited, crushed at her cruel fate. 
Weeping long at the church-yard gate ; 

Waited, dazed, for one who never came. 
While morning's joy grew evening's shame ; 

Waited for one who had played her false 
Who had taken her with all her faults, 

Deceived, and ruined, and then betrayed, 
The beautiful, thoughtless, proud young maid ; 



244 CYNTHY. 

Waited with many a secret pang. 

While the viper of hate sent its deadly fang 

Deep into her heart, that broke that da\', 
But 3"et beat on in a sad weak way, 

And would not stop, would not let her die. 
With her sorrow-chilled heart, and tearless eye. 

And sweet turned bitter, love grew cold ; 

And the blooming maid turned a wrinkled scold. 

For the sailor, whose bride she was to be, 
That very same morning put to sea, 

Bearing far over the ocean wide 
Upon his deck another fair bride ; 

Another maiden, so sweet and fair, 
With a witching eye, and a beauty rare 

He bore light-hearted o'er the blue. 
For sailors, alas ! are not all true ; 

And they woo in earnest, and marry in sport. 
And have a wife in every port. 



CYNTHY. 245 

And this is the fate — tho' its hard to tell — 
That a thoughtless maiden once befell. 

The fate of a giddy, heartless flirt, 
Wliose worth is cheaper than common dirt ; 

Who, after vict'ries man}', and ill- earned pelf. 
Was conquered at last, defeated tierself. 

A fate deserved, and a well-earned curse. 
— Better the bier, and better the hearse! — 

And thus may it be with all those arts 
That cheapen honor, and ruin hearts ! 

*'But pity her, shunned, hated, and lone. 
And gray and sad as an old grave-stone ; 

O, pity her now, and let her be 
A living example to such as we ! 

An awful warning for all our lives !" 
Thus spake the pitying old fish- wives, 

Who love to gossip, and their lives thus spend, 
As the only means to a certain end. 



246 



CYNTHY. 



And they pity her all, but fear her more, 
The withered old witch upon the shore, 

With her grizzled, crawling, snaky hair, 
Blown about by the strong sea-air, 

As she stands on the hill looking off to sea,- 
Poor old Cynth}' ! Let her be ! 







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